WALES

Revenue and Customs

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Treasury Ministers on steps being taken by that Department to alleviate any effects on local employment of the closure or downgrading of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Wales.

Paul Murphy: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with Treasury Ministers on a range of issues, including the HMRC Change programme.
	I understand that before withdrawing from any office, a full impact assessment is undertaken, assessing the impact on staff, customers and the local economy.

Roads: Accidents

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many recorded deaths from traffic accidents there were in Wales in each of the last 12 years.

Paul Murphy: Although any road deaths are regrettable the numbers in Wales have reduced by over 25 per cent. over the last 12 years from 218 in 1995 to 163 in 2006.
	A full table showing the last 12 years of available data is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of recorded road deaths in Wales 1995 to 2006 
			   Casualties  ( killed ) 
			 1995 218 
			 1996 216 
			 1997 221 
			 1998 202 
			 1999 192 
			 2000 168 
			 2001 187 
			 2002 147 
			 2003 173 
			 2004 201 
			 2005 180 
			 2006 163

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Corruption

Mike Hancock: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases were added to the register of referrals for overseas corruption allegations in each of the last five years for which there are records; and how many  (a) have been and  (b) are being investigated.

Vera Baird: The Serious Fraud Office have had 123 allegations recorded on the register of referrals for overseas corruption in the last five years. Of these,  (a) two allegations were closed after investigation while  (b) 18 continue to be investigated. A number of other allegations are being researched to establish whether an investigation is merited.

Corruption

Mike Hancock: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases appeared on the Serious Fraud Office's register of referrals on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such cases were investigated in each of the last five years.

Vera Baird: The Serious Fraud Office had 145 cases recorded on the register of referrals for overseas corruption on 30 April 2008—the latest date for which figures are available. In the last five full calendar years(1) a total of 25 investigations were opened by UK agencies, four in 2003, six in each of 2004 and 2005, and four each in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Three investigations have been begun to date during 2008. A number of other allegations are being researched to establish whether an investigation is merited.
	(1) Answer given within calendar years.

Crown Prosecution Service: Databases

Jon Trickett: To ask the Solicitor-General what the  (a) process and  (b) timescale is for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to update its electronic records relating to those who (i) are awaiting charge and (ii) have been charged and are awaiting a trial or hearing; what guidelines apply to the updating of electronic records at the CPS; and who is responsible for the updating of electronic records of CPS cases.

Vera Baird: The process of the CPS creating an electronic record for those awaiting a charge is dependent on how the police have sought a pre-charge decision (PCD) from the CPS. The four factors that influence the process are:
	ix1. Where the Exchange Links interface currently rolling out across the country, linking police and CPS case systems, is live in the area, and the police case systems can provide the electronic information to the CPS at the pre-charge stage.
	This is the quickest process for creating the electronic record as the police case systems can send the pre-charge decision information via the Exchange Link. This message is then automatically registered on the CPS COMPASS case management system (CMS) as a pre-charge decision case.
	2. Where it is a face to face consultation with a duty prosecutor (at a charging centre).
	The pre-charge decision case record will be created on CMS either by the duty prosecutor at the time of the consultation, or subsequently registered by administration staff from the paper record.
	3. Where it is over the telephone with CPS Direct (out of office hours).
	Administration staff will create the case record on CMS when an email has been received from CPS Direct with the outcome of their pre-charge decisions.
	4. Where only the paper file is received from the police.
	Administration staff will create the record on CMS.
	The timescales for creating the electronic case records have not been centrally mandated; however, the optimum business model process, currently being rolled out across the CPS, aims to ensure all case registrations are within 24 hours of receipt of the information, regardless of the process of receipt in the CPS.
	For those who have been charged and are awaiting a trial or a hearing, the aim is for all electronic records on CMS to be updated within 24 hours of each hearing, to ensure timely information is available to enable the CPS to meet its commitments under the Victims' Code. To achieve this aim, the target set for all areas during 2007-08 was for 60 per cent. of cases to be updated within 24 hours; this target was met. For 2008-09 the target is 75 per cent; the early indications are that this target will be met. These updates are input by administration staff from information on the paper file.

Television: Telephone Services

Don Foster: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 297W, on television: telephone services, which four allegations of television broadcaster misconduct have been considered by the Serious Fraud Office.

Vera Baird: The Serious Fraud Office has considered an allegation against GMTV Ltd. and Opera Telecom Ltd. arising out of competitions run as part of the GMTV Breakfast programme and an allegation against Big Game Television. A decision was taken by the former Director of the SFO, Robert Wardle, not to commence formal investigations into these allegations.
	An allegation against ITV plc. in relation to a number of programmes and an allegation concerning the BBC are still under consideration.

Television: Telephone Services

Don Foster: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 297W, on television: telephone services, what meetings the Serious Fraud Office has had with representatives of  (a) the BBC,  (b) ITV,  (c) GMTV and  (d) other television broadcasters on alleged misconduct in the use of premium rate telephone services in viewer competitions and voting in the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: The Serious Fraud Office met with ITV internal legal counsel and solicitors instructed by the company on one occasion.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Food Supply: Security

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to improve the security of food supply.

Hilary Benn: Food security is about ensuring consumers have access to a stable and adequate supply of food. This requires effective risk management and contingency planning, security of energy supplies, access to food from a variety of sources and a strong domestic agricultural industry and food chain and infrastructure. In the light of recent increases in food commodity prices, we are reviewing our policies to ensure that they continue to deliver food security for all consumers.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential environmental effects of vehicle excise duty; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential environmental effects of vehicle excise duty.

Phil Woolas: I have regular discussions with my Treasury colleagues on this and a range of other issues.

Nitrate-vulnerable Zones

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to English farmers of implementing new proposals for nitrate vulnerable zones.

Phil Woolas: The Government are considering our response to the consultation on implementing the nitrates directive.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Reduction Targets

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the Government's carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets.

Phil Woolas: I and DEFRA officials have regular discussions with Department for Transport colleagues on this and a range of other issues.

Bees

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of recent changes in bee stock levels.

Jonathan R Shaw: It is too early to make an assessment. There are indications of some significant colony losses across the country, but a considerable amount of restocking is also taking place. Work to investigate losses and check new stocks is being given high priority.

Energy Efficiency: Public Buildings

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings.

Phil Woolas: Central Government have stretching targets for sustainable operations on their estate, including in relation to energy efficiency. We have announced a series of measures in our response to the Sustainable Development Commission's latest annual report.

Waste Disposal

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department provides to local government on alternatives to landfill and incineration of domestic waste.

Joan Ruddock: The Waste and Resources Action Programme which supports local authorities to deliver more sustainable waste management has published research which is also available. Additionally, the Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme provides local authorities with support to help deliver the infrastructure needed to treat residual waste so that England can divert more waste from landfill.

Recycling

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent assessment is of progress in increasing recycling rates.

Joan Ruddock: England is making good progress in increasing recycling rates. Household recycling rates increased from 7 per cent. in 1997 to 33 per cent. in the year to October 2007, packaging recycling rates are up from 28 per cent. in 1997 to 59 per cent. in 2007, and the most recent Environment Agency survey in 2002-03 showed that recycling rates for commercial and industrial waste were 45 per cent.
	Waste Strategy for England sets out the Government's plans to increase waste recycling rates for household, commercial and industrial waste.

Animal Welfare

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will hold discussions with Compassion in World Farming on his Department's role in ensuring animal welfare standards are met in Government procurement policy.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative encourages public bodies to specify higher animal welfare standards and suggests specific ways of achieving this. It also promotes farm assurance standards, including 'Freedom Foods', and allows buyers to place more emphasis on produce meeting higher level standards when contracts are awarded.
	DEFRA will evaluate the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative and its effectiveness in improving animal welfare.

Wild Caught Bird Imports

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to continue the ban on wild caught bird imports.

Joan Ruddock: The EU ban on wild bird imports, introduced on 1 July 2007, is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future. We supported the ban on animal health grounds and, for the same reason, we support it now.

Flood Defence

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Environment Agency has a prioritised action plan for high-risk flood defence systems not in target condition.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency reduces flood risk by focussing work on flood defences that contribute most towards risk. Annual work programmes are prioritised based on the latest inspections of flood defence conditions. More than 95 per cent. of Environment Agency flood defences are at or above the required standard.

Biofuels

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken to encourage more drivers to use biofuels.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) requires the major oil companies and fuel suppliers that supply road fuels to ensure that a proportion of the road fuel supplied in the UK comprises renewable fuels such as biofuels. The scheme came into effect in April 2008. The level of the obligation for the first year (2008-09) is 2.5 per cent. of total fuel supplied, rising to 3.75 per cent. in 2009-10 and 5 per cent. in 2010-11.
	The UK Government, through the Refuelling Infrastructure Grant Programme managed by the Energy Saving Trust, have provided grants since 2005 towards the cost of installing alternative refuelling points including, for example, for hydrogen, electric, bioethanol and natural gas/biogas stations. To date the grant programme has assisted in funding of 18 bioethanol (E85) refuelling stations and 1 E95 bioethanol station.

Carbon Emissions: Finance

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the UK's performance in meeting its international carbon dioxide emission reduction targets.

Phil Woolas: To meet our Kyoto target, UK emissions of the six gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydroflurocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) controlled under the Kyoto Protocol, expressed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent, must be 12.5 per cent. below base year levels across the period 2008-12. The base year is 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for the fluorinated gases. In 2005 and 2006, UK emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) were below this level. Latest projections estimate that, including the impact of the EU ETS, UK GHG emissions will be 23 per cent. below base year levels in 2010.
	Along with Germany and Sweden, the UK is one of the three EU-15 member states projected to be on track to achieve their Kyoto Protocol targets using only existing domestic policies and measures.

Chemicals: EU Law

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government has taken to encourage manufacturers, importers and users of chemicals to follow EU rules on chemical control.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 10 June 2008
	On 1 June 2007 the EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) Regulation came into force. It is being implemented in stages over the next 10 years, and will replace much of the previous patchwork of chemicals control legislation with a single framework.
	DEFRA, BERR, the UK REACH Competent Authority (the Health and Safety Executive), and the devolved administrations have been working closely since last year to raise awareness of REACH across industry, to encourage compliance and to make sure business can get the most benefit from REACH. This has been through a combination of four national conferences and over 25 regional follow-up events for industry organised by the Competent Authority, the creation of a dedicated REACH website within the Health and Safety Executive's website, and a national Helpdesk to provide advice and technical information for businesses (contactable by telephone on 0845 408 9575, or e-mail at ukreachca@hse.gsi.gov.uk). In addition, the Government have placed notices in specialised trade press, various online website links and e-newsletters, and an article in the February edition of the Employers' Bulletin sent out by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to over 1 million UK businesses. These activities will continue as REACH begins to be implemented in the coming months. Industry also has a role to play in REACH awareness-raising through the supply chain.
	Enforcement of REACH is the responsibility of each EU member state, and on 2 June the Government launched a public consultation on the proposed UK arrangements. The documents are available on DEFRA's website. The enforcement arrangements must be in place by 1 December.

Chlorofluorocarbons: Waste Disposal

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of existing capacity safely to capture and dispose of products containing ozone depleting substances, with particular reference to those contained within plastic foam insulation; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The UK has some of the largest and most modern fridge treatment plants in Europe. These recover ozone-depleting substances from the fridge insulating foam and circuits and, in some cases, other equipment containing ozone-depleting substances.
	There are two high temperature incinerators in the UK that are used to destroy waste ozone-depleting substances.
	The use of ozone-depleting substances in building insulation foams has been banned in the EU since the beginning of 2004. Most of these foams are currently still in buildings. DEFRA has initiated discussions with building industry stakeholders to assess the current infrastructure available for dealing with the recovery or destruction of ozone-depleting substances in building foams and the technical and economic issues that arise.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the commitment in the Gleneagles G8 Climate Change Action Plan to promote the International Energy Agency's One Watt Initiative.

Phil Woolas: The "One Watt" Initiative was launched by the International Energy Agency in 1997 with the aim of reducing standby power consumption for new appliances to one watt or less by 2010.
	At Gleneagles, the G8—led by the UK—agreed to promote the application of the one watt initiative and the UK has been working with retailers and manufacturers to design out the use of wasteful standby functions and we are moving to adopt the one watt standard as part of our own procurement policy.
	The UK has also been pressing for regulatory action to achieve this at the European level. Work under the Eco-design for Energy-using Products Framework Directive (EuP) is going well and we are expecting mandatory minimum standards for standby by the end of 2009, with a one watt horizontal requirement for most energy using products in place by 2010.

Climate Change: Satellites

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings he has held with representatives of the space industry on the development of earth observation satellites to monitor the effects of climate change in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not met representatives of the space industry to discuss the development of Earth observation (EO) satellites to monitor the effects of climate change, within the last year. DEFRA is a partner in the British National Space Centre (hosted by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills) who co-ordinate the Government's interactions with the space industry. The Minister for Science and Innovation, who has responsibility for space policy, regularly meets with representatives of the space industry, where his wide-ranging discussions have covered the use of Earth observation satellites in monitoring climate change, and the associated Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) initiative. In addition to this, DEFRA organised a forum in March 2008, which was attended by a wide cross-section of the industry and others, to receive their views and input on the GMES initiative.

Flood Control: Land

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what funding his Department makes available to land owners to assist them in pursuing land management practices which contribute to flood defences;
	(2)  if he will provide agri-environment payments for land owners to incentivise land management practices which contribute to flood defences.

Phil Woolas: Environmental Stewardship, the agri-environment scheme funded through the Rural Development Programme for England, has flood management as a secondary objective, in support of its five primary objectives for wildlife, landscape, resource protection, the historic environment and access. The scheme does not fund flood management measures but can support complementary measures, such as the creation of water meadows and ditch restoration. During the application approval process, Natural England is advised by the Environment Agency as to whether there are any flood management benefits to the application, but the critical deciding factor will be whether the proposal meets the primary objectives.
	The Environment Agency's catchment flood management plans identify areas where changes in land management may have a beneficial impact on flood risk and Natural England can use this information to help target higher level stewardship (HLS) funding. In deciding which HLS schemes to fund, Natural England has to take into account the full range of scheme objectives, and proposals which only deliver flood management benefits are less likely to be funded than those which deliver multiple objectives.
	In cases where flood risk is an issue but HLS is not available the Environment Agency may use the flood management budget to take appropriate action. Any such scheme would need to be prioritised along with all other competing flood management projects.

Floods: Felixstowe

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the meeting notes of the meeting held between the right hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal and the then Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Derby South (Margaret Beckett), to discuss Felixstowe's flood defences.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 9 June 2008
	I will write to the right hon. Member when I have more information.

Food Supply

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the security of the national food supply.

Hilary Benn: I have discussed food security, both national and global, regularly with ministerial colleagues in recent months. The UK is more self-sufficient in food supply now than we were at the end of the Second World War, but we do need to respond to changing circumstances. I intend to publish a paper on ensuring Britain's food security later this month.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account he takes of the possible effect on England and Wales of Scotland adopting a policy of banning GM crops when formulating policy.

Phil Woolas: Like the rest of the UK, Scotland is subject to the relevant European Union legislation in this area. This provides for decisions on the proposed commercial release of GM products to be taken at EU level on a case-by-case basis, in line with the scientific evidence on the possible risks to human health and the environment.

Heathrow Airport: Carbon Emissions

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals in the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation on the UK's greenhouse gas emissions.

Phil Woolas: Both Ministers and officials in DEFRA engage regularly with colleagues at the Department for Transport on matters relating to Heathrow which affect DEFRA lead policy responsibilities: notably on air quality, noise and climate change impacts.
	Under current plans to include aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS), aviation emissions will be capped at the average of 2004-06 levels. Therefore, any growth in emissions above this cap would be compensated by emissions reductions elsewhere in other sectors that are participating in the EU ETS.

Inland Waterways: Waste Disposal

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to assist local communities and voluntary associations to clear rubbish and other debris from rivers and canals.

Jonathan R Shaw: The bodies responsible for maintaining waterways frequently work with local communities and charitable organisations to clear rubbish and debris. In addition, DEFRA provides funding to ENCAMS, who will be launching the Big Tidy Up campaign later this year—this will help community and voluntary groups to get involved in cleaning up their neighbourhoods, including rivers and canals.

Insulation: EC Law

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 766W, on insulation: EC law, whether his Department has set a timetable towards implementation following the European Commission's review of EC Regulation 2037/2000.

Phil Woolas: According to the current information from the European Commission, any revised legislation resulting from the Commission's review of EC Regulation 2037/2000 may come into force in the UK and other member states by early 2010. The Commission acknowledges that this is an ambitious timetable.

Correspondence

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the response to the letter to the Prime Minister dated 19 December 2007 from Dr. James Hansen on the development of coal-fired power stations.

Phil Woolas: It is not our policy to publish detail of responses to private letters.

Nature Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes there have been to the regulations affecting the trade of endangered species in the last two years.

Joan Ruddock: Commission Regulation (EC) No. 100/2008 came into effect on 25 February 2008 and made amendments to Commission Regulation 865/2006 which lays down the detailed rule concerning the implementation of CITES in the European Community. Changes included amendments to certificate definitions; changes to the personal effects derogation; a new certificate for sample collections; and a requirement for caviar processing plants to be registered.
	Commission Regulation (EC) No. 318/2008 (CITES) came into effect on 11 April 2008. It replaced 1332/2005 and made amendments to the species listed on the Annexes of Council Regulation 338/97, implementing the changes to the Appendices agreed at the 14th Conference of CITES Parties in June 2007.
	Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1037/2007 (CITES) came into effect on 1 October 2007. It suspends the introduction into the EC of certain species of wild fauna and flora. It also repealed Commission Regulation (EC) No. 349/2003 of 25 February 2003.

Planning Permission: Upchurch

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1302W, on planning permission: Upchurch, when the Environment Agency's investigation will be completed; and what consideration the Agency has given to taking legal action following completion of its investigation.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 10 June 2008
	The Environment Agency's observation and investigation has, to date, revealed no evidence of illegal activity upon which it can act. The Environment Agency continues to support the multi agency group in its ongoing investigations and regulation of activities on site.
	Medway Unitary Authority is leading on regulation at Four Gun Field under the terms of the paragraph 24 exemption which it registered in respect of the crushing activities at the site.

Rivers: Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will commission research into the current and future condition of the chalk rivers of Hertfordshire.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency set up the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA) Programme in 1999 to identify and catalogue those sites which may be at risk from unsustainable abstraction. The aim of the RSA programme is to implement solutions to improve the flow and ecology of rivers.
	The Environment Agency is currently investigating a number of rivers within Hertfordshire including the Gade, Bulbourne, Mimram, Beane, Ver, Colne, Rib and Stort.

Rivers: Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to encourage improved water flow in the chalk rivers of Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency and Three Valleys Water are currently seeking solutions to the long-term challenge of reversing the impact of over-abstraction on flow levels within the Hertfordshire Chalk streams.

Rivers: Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on the ecology of the chalk rivers of Hertfordshire of current rates of water abstraction.

Phil Woolas: The ecological quality of chalk rivers is assessed by the Environment Agency using nationally recognised procedures. Invertebrates, fish and aquatic plants are regularly monitored. The precise number of monitored sites and the frequency of sampling varies from river to river and is related to the severity of low flows thought to be attributed to abstraction.
	The Environment Agency uses monitoring results in the development of Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS). As a result the Upper Lee and Colne have been given 'over abstracted' status. This defines a future licensing strategy to prevent further over-abstraction and to improve current status.

Water Supply

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether he plans to introduce additional enforcement measures to ensure water efficiency;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the reduction in average daily household water usage in the East of England likely to be achieved on an annual basis by 2021; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his benchmark figure is for daily household water usage  (a) in new developments and  (b) in all developments;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of daily household water usage in Hertfordshire.

Phil Woolas: A minimum benchmark figure for the design of new homes will be established by revision of the building regulations to be introduced in April 2009. The design performance standard of 125 litres per person per day is proposed. Additional benchmarks have been established in The Code for Sustainable Homes which set out higher levels of water efficiency. The ambition of an average daily household water usage of 130 litres per person per day by 2030, or less, within existing developments, was set out in the Government's water strategy 'Future Water'.
	Daily household water usage data are reported by Ofwat in their Security of Supply Report. The average per capita consumption for consumers of Three Valleys Water who supply consumers in Hertfordshire was 168 litres per person per day in 2006-07.
	Water companies are currently consulting on their draft Water Resource Management Plans; these set out their views on the future level of water consumption between 2010 and 2035.
	The new water efficiency requirements to be introduced within Part G of Building Regulations and the review of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations will require improved water efficiency performance in new and existing premises, and will be enforced through current mechanisms set in both sets of Regulations.

Water Supply

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Environment Agency on the sustainable level of daily household water usage.

Phil Woolas: The level of sustainable daily household water usage will differ for each area and over time, as it needs to take into account how much water can be sustainably abstracted in one catchment area (which might change over time) and how much water is used by all water users.
	The Environment Agency has developed catchment abstraction management strategies (CAMS). Each strategy reflects the amount of water available in the natural environment for sustainable abstraction and looks at whether there is a sustainable balance between it and the amount of water that is licensed for abstraction. Strategies are available from the Environment Agency's website.
	The Government's strategy for water, 'Future Water', states our ambition to reduce per capita consumption of water through cost effective measures, to an average of 130 litres per person per day by 2030, or possibly even 120 litres per person per day depending on new technological developments and innovation. Any reduction in per capita consumption will contribute towards achieving a sustainable balance of supply and demand, and the Environment Agency has expressed support for the Government's ambition for water efficiency.

Water Supply: East of England

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether changes have been made in his Department's assessment of future  (a) water demand and  (b) water resource in (i) Hertfordshire and (ii) the Eastern Region since 2000 as a result of climate change;
	(2)  what quantity of water he estimates will be necessary for the new homes in Hertfordshire planned up to 2021;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the planning and management of water supplies in the East of England;
	(4)  what contribution he expects to be made from future  (a) demand management and  (b) resource development in providing water for homes in the East of England by 2021;
	(5)  much water is available in Hertfordshire for supply to new homes.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. As part of the Agency's management role it has both national and regional water resource strategies which set out the pressures over the next 25 years.
	Water companies have statutory duties to maintain adequate supplies of water. On 1 April 2007 it became a statutory requirement for water companies to prepare and maintain previously voluntary water resources management plans. These are 25 year plans which complement the Agency strategies and seek to reconcile supply with anticipated demand using the twin-track approach of considering the need for new resources, such as reservoirs, in parallel with the full range of options for reducing demand. New resources should be developed only where the scope for managing demand is clearly insufficient or unjustified in terms of cost.
	The planning authorities are statutory consultees on the water company water resources management plans, which means that the water companies can be provided with information on proposed large scale developments in their supply areas. The water companies are also statutory consultees on Regional spatial strategies and local development frameworks, in the East of England and elsewhere, and should work with plan making bodies in drawing up these plans, so that the necessary coordination can occur.
	Water companies are currently holding the first public consultations on their draft water resource management plans, providing any interested parties will the opportunity to make representations on the content of the plans. Each water company, in the East of England and elsewhere, has to publish a statement in response to the representation, and if the response is not considered to be adequate the Secretary of State can direct them to make further changes.
	The Environment Agency now has Catchment abstraction management strategies (CAMS) in place throughout England and Wales, including the East of England, which provide transparency in the allocation of water resources. CAMS provide a consistent and structured approach to local water resources management, recognising the reasonable needs of all abstractors and the needs of the environment. CAMS enable the consideration of how much water can be abstracted from watercourses without damaging the environment. They will provide more local detail on the availability of water in Hertfordshire and the East of England more generally, and will allow a detailed assessment of where action may be needed to deal with problems of over abstraction.
	In October 2007, the Chancellor announced a new Public Service Agreement on climate change. Sustainable abstraction, as measured through the water availability status in catchments, is the chosen indicator of the extent to which we are adapting to climate change. The achievement and maintenance of sustainable abstraction requires that policy is adaptable to changing climatic conditions. This indicator captures efforts to reduce demand and use water efficiently, and long-term planning to ensure resilience of water supply. It reflects the totality of abstraction impacts from local to national level.

Water Supply: East of England

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likelihood of drought conditions in Hertfordshire by 2021.

Phil Woolas: Based on climate change scenarios derived from Hadley Centre's Regional Climate Model which suggests that the frequency of 'short' droughts, lasting one or two seasons, would increase significantly by the 2050s and be commonplace by the 2080s, it is expected that there will be an increase in the frequency of short droughts in Hertfordshire by 2021. These projections are based on modelling studies that contain inherent uncertainties, meaning that the actual frequency of droughts that will be experienced in future may be more or less than these estimates.
	All water companies, including those supplying Hertfordshire, will need to identify measures to increase resilience of water supply against increased frequency of drought in their Water Resources Management Plans, which are currently subject to consultation. These measures should include demand and supply side options to maintain a supply-demand balance.
	Water companies have statutory drought plans which set out how a company will meet essential demands for water in times of drought. Drought plans are prepared every three years and are subject to public consultation.

Water Supply: East of England

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what  (a) representations he has received on and  (b) assessment he has made of the sustainability and acceptability of the abstraction regime in Hertfordshire on summer surface water availability;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the potential for increased water capacity from the Abberton reservoir to be deployed in Hertfordshire;
	(3)  how much unused water capacity there was in each county in the East of England on the last date for which figures are available;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the extent to which Hertfordshire is water-stressed; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. It now has catchment abstraction management strategies (CAMS) in place which provide transparency in the allocation of water resources. CAMS provide a consistent and structured approach to local water resources management, recognising the reasonable needs of all abstractors and the needs of the environment. CAMS enable the consideration of how much water can be abstracted from watercourses without damaging the environment. They provide local detail on the availability of water and allow a detailed assessment of where action may be needed to deal with problems of over abstraction.
	The first set of CAMS has been completed and information on water resources in Hertfordshire and the east of England can be found on the Environment Agency website. I am not aware of representations having been made to the Secretary of State on the results of the relevant CAMS documents.
	The CAMS process is currently being reviewed. The new process should strengthen links with other water resources initiatives to improve water management in the future.
	The expansion of Abberton reservoir is the subject of an application for planning permission to the relevant planning authority. Should the reservoir be expanded, then the potential use of its water in Hertfordshire will be a matter for the water company operating the reservoir and the water companies supplying Hertfordshire.
	The Secretary of State has designated all water companies serving Hertfordshire as operating in areas of serious water stress, for the purposes of accelerating domestic metering of water supply where there is a resources case to do so. This designation allows the companies concerned to make a case for compulsory metering in the water resources management plans. Where the Secretary of State agrees the case has been made, then the companies will be allowed to pursue a programme of compulsory metering.

TRANSPORT

Airports: Public Safety Zones

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2008,  Official Report, column 425W, on airports: public safety zones, what factors will be taken into account in deciding the order in which the public safety zones will be reviewed under the phased review.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The principal factor in deciding the order of review of public safety zones will be the increase in total aircraft movements against the forecast figure provided when the current zones were established; airports showing the strongest growth will be the first reviewed.
	It is likely that a small number of airports will be taken out of order to reflect local circumstances such as airport development.

Aviation: Scotland

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1895W, on railways: Scotland, what work she has asked Network Rail to undertake regarding a high speed rail link between England and Scotland.

Tom Harris: Network Rail is developing longer term options for the railway network, and this will include consideration of new lines, both conventional and high speed.

Biofuels: Air Pollution

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the effect on air quality of use of bio-fuels.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government have commissioned and published various pieces of research into the effects of biofuels on air quality. These include an evaluation of the impacts of vegetable oil fuel on the emissions of two light duty diesel vehicles and an evaluation of the potential impact of bioethanol on emissions of a wide range of air pollutants (available at
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/cqvcf/dftbiofuelsevaluationofemiss3823
	and
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/ethanolemissionstestingmainr3843
	or by navigating from the Department for Transport's home page (www.dft.gov.uk) to DfT home > Policy, guidance and research > Roads and vehicles > Environmental issues > Research, and then > Ethanol Emissions Testing: Main Report or > Cleaner and Quieter Vehicles and Cleaner Fuels > DfT biofuels evaluation of emissions performance from vegetable oil fuel).

Bus Services: Concessions

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are measures in place to penalise those local transport authorities which do not issue bus passes for free travel to local elderly and disabled people within certain times.

Rosie Winterton: Travel concession authorities have a legal obligation to issue a concessionary travel pass to any person who appears to that authority to be eligible for concessionary travel. The legislation does not include any explicit statutory time limits by which an authority must issue a pass, although the statutory wording implies that the permits should be issued within a reasonable period of time. Travel concession authorities failing to supply permits within a reasonable period of time may be vulnerable to legal challenge.

CTRL/London and Continental Railways

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the expected proceeds of the sale of the Government's interests in CTRL/London and Continental Railways.

Tom Harris: The intention of the Government is to agree a restructuring and sale of London and Continental Railways Ltd. in a way which maximises value for money for the taxpayer.
	The timing of that sale will depend on the pace of restructuring and market conditions closer to the time.
	The Government would not wish to publish an estimate of expected proceeds; to do so might compromise the competitive sale process and damage value.

Cycleways

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her most recent estimate is of the number of miles of cycle routes in the National Cycle Network.

Rosie Winterton: Sustrans, the Transport Charity is the co-ordinator of the National Cycle Network (NCN). The Network consists of over 12,000 miles of walking and cycle routes on traffic-free paths, quiet lanes and traffic-calmed roads.
	The Department for Transport continues to fund Links to School from the NCN. We have contributed over £18 million to link over 600 schools to the network. We plan to contribute funding for a further 250 links to approximately 500 schools through Cycling England's current work programme.

Cycleways: Construction

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the average cost per mile of new cycle path construction.

Rosie Winterton: Local highway authorities are responsible for the delivery of cycle tracks and paths. They do so within their unring-fenced block grant for Local Transport.
	The Department therefore does not hold information on cycle track/path construction costs. Furthermore the cost of an off-road cycle track/path varies greatly, especially depending on the design and location.
	Sustrans, the promoters of the National Cycle Network estimate that the average cost of a mile of off-road cycle track costs around £45,000.

Cycling: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support her Department provides to assist the development of cycle networks in Bournemouth.

Rosie Winterton: The responsibility for the development of cycle networks in Bournemouth rests with the local council, as the local highway authority.
	The Department for Transport encourages all local authorities to develop a cycling strategy as part of their Local Transport Plan (LTP). I understand Bournemouth borough council produce a joint LTP with the borough of Poole council. DfT has awarded their joint LTP the following block grant for local transport for the next three years from which cycle projects could be funded.
	
		
			  Integrated transport block allocations 
			   £000 
			 2008-09 4,296 
			 2009-10 4,512 
			 2010-11 4,726

Departmental Higher Civil Servants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date her Department's Permanent Secretary took up the post.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Robert Devereux was appointed permanent secretary for the Department with effect from 30 May 2007.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of her Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport recorded the following current data:
	
		
			   Total  Percentage 
			  Total Staff 19,543  
			 Number of male 11,227 57.45 
			 Number of female 8,316 42.55 
			 Number ethnicity - white 16,138 82.58 
			 Number ethnicity - ethnic minority (ALL) 1,017 5.20 
			 Number ethnicity - not stated 2,388 12.22 
			 Number of disabled 1,449 7.41 
		
	
	Data on sexual orientation is not currently collected across the Department for Transport nor published centrally.

Departmental Travel

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance is given to her staff on use of sustainable travel for business purposes.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport and its agencies base their travel policy on the requirement that travel should only be undertaken where necessary, and after alternatives have been considered. Public transport should be used wherever possible.
	Additional measures, such as detailed travel plans, are being developed and rolled out throughout the Department to reinforce the commitment to sustainability and the lowering of environmental impact. In addition, the central Department has published a sustainable travel site on its intranet which offers advice on alternatives to travel, and on sustainable travel choices.

Departmental Travel

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether sustainability of mode of travel is taken into account by her Department when approving staff travel expenses.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport and its agencies operate travel policies that only permit travel to be undertaken when it is necessary and after alternatives have been considered, and stipulate that public transport should be used wherever possible. Management checks and approval of claims must include compliance with travel policy.

Departmental Travel

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department paid in staff travel costs in each of the last three years, broken down by mode of transport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Travel spend is accounted differently across the Department for Transport and its agencies, and hence it is not possible to provide a consistent breakdown by mode. Travel spend in 2005-06 was £12,650,748, in 2006-07 it was £13,574,340, and in 2007-08 £12,863,666. These figures do not include VOSA as the agency does not hold this information and so could not provide it without disproportionate cost. DSA figures are only included in the 2007-08 total, as the accounting system used before that period did not separate travel from other costs. The 2007-08 total does not include DFT(C) as the information for that year is not currently available.

Driving Tests: Personal Records

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Oral Statement of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 624-26, on data storage and use, when her Permanent Secretary was first informed of the loss of information by Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd. from its facility in Iowa City.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1008W.

Government Car and Despatch Agency: Fuels

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government Car and Despatch Agency spent on  (a) petrol,  (b) diesel and  (c) other vehicle fuel in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Since 2003-04 the Government Car and Despatch Agency has spent £3,352,937 on vehicle fuels as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Petrol  Diesel  LPG 
			 2003-04 414,493 192,161 26,100 
			 2004-05 403,895 193,550 35,162 
			 2005-06 449,797 225,131 48,291 
			 2006-07 390,574 265,025 32,583 
			 2007-08 303,139 371,055 1,982 
		
	
	From 2005-06 onwards, vehicles in the van-based Government mail fleet ended their operational life and were replaced by diesel powered vans because these proved to be more reliable and efficient. This accounts for the sharp fall on the use of LPG in the last two years.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1384W, on Heathrow Airport, 
	(1)  which technical studies and documents regarding Heathrow expansion proposals have been made available to key stakeholders since 2003;
	(2)  which key stakeholders have been given access to technical studies regarding Heathrow expansion proposals conducted by her Department since 2003.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The only stakeholders given access to the Heathrow work were those directly involved in providing technical input, namely the Civil Aviation Authority, NATS and BAA. It is not practicable to list all the documents which respective parties have seen since 2003. The outcome of the work is represented by the Heathrow consultation document and the series of supporting technical reports issued last November, seven of which were provided variously by NATS and the CAA.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the likely effect of Heathrow Airport expansion on the level of chargeable landing fees by the airport operator.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The costs and benefits of additional capacity at Heathrow airport are set out in annex B (impact assessment) of "Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport", November 2007, available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/heathrow consultation/
	Further details of the methods used to estimate these costs and benefits are set out in "UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts", November 2007, available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/ukairdemandandco2forecasts/
	No assessment of the likely effect of additional capacity at Heathrow airport on the level of landing fees charged by the airport operator has been made.
	The level of landing fees charged by the airport operator with additional capacity would be a matter for the airport operator, airlines, and the CAA.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis and by whom the assumptions referred to in paragraph 2.47 of Annex B to the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation document were made.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The assumptions are based on the Department for Transport future passenger forecasts with additional Heathrow capacity as set out in "Future of Air Transport White Paper supporting document Passenger Forecasts: Additional Analysis (December 2003)". As stated in the consultation document, this analysis is preliminary and does not form part of the overall Heathrow net present value (NPV) calculations. The tourism analysis is currently being updated in line with latest information, feedback from consultation responses and input from the Heathrow impact assessment peer review process.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 953-4W, on Heathrow airport, what role was played by BAA in developing the economic impact assessment on Heathrow expansion set out in Annex B of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow consultation document.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Annex B of the 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' consultation document, which assesses the potential impacts of options for adding capacity at Heathrow airport, was prepared by Department for Transport officials in line with the Better Regulation Executive's impact assessment guidance. As such it draws upon information from a range of sources, including BAA.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1014W, on Heathrow Airport, which  (a) existing guidelines and  (b) long-term targets recommended by the World Health Organisation were taken into account when preparing options for expansion included in the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation document;
	(2)  how many people live in areas of the UK where aviation noise is classified as dangerous by the World Health Organisation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The reference in my earlier reply of 2 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1014W, to WHO guidelines and long-term targets was in the context of noise policy generally, and was not specific to Heathrow.
	The WHO guidelines for community noise (WHO, 1999) are essentially values for the onset of health effects. These are levels that would produce no significant health effects for the population at large. The WHO have recommended that the guidelines should be adopted as long term targets for improving human health which the Government have stated that they will take into account.
	The WHO guideline targets and the Government definition of significant community annoyance are not incompatible but do not read across directly. The WHO values are set at the level below which there is no impact from annoyance on human health—the Government value is set in terms of community annoyance.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if her Department will commission an independent assessment of the information provided by BAA for the preparation of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow consultation document.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1383W.

Highways Agency

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which bodies the Highways Agency is accountable.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency is an Executive agency of the Department for Transport and is accountable to the Secretary of State for Transport.

Highways Agency: Complaints

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what formal complaint mechanisms are open to members of the public in relation to decisions taken by the Highways Agency.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency has a formal complaints procedure called Putting Things Right, which is published on its website. The procedure involves three stages; a local review, a review by the chief executive and a further review by an independent complaints assessor.

Highways Agency: Freedom of Information

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 have been received by the Highways Agency since the Act came into operation.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency has received 790 requests under the Freedom of Information Act since 1 January 2005 when the Act came into operation.

M1: Safety Barriers

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has for the maintenance of the safety barriers on the M1 motorway at Newport Pagnell Service Station and Little Linford Lane; and when the work will be completed.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency is responsible for the maintenance of safety barriers on the M1 motorway. They have recently completed the repair of accident damage to the safety barrier on the northbound entry slip road to the Motorway Service Area (MSA).
	Newport Pagnell MSA is a site that is owned by the Secretary of State and leased to Welcome Break Ltd. for the provision of services to those travelling on the motorway. Under the terms of the lease, maintenance issues such as safety barriers within the boundaries of the MSA site are the responsibility of the site operator.
	Little Linford Road is the responsibility of Milton Keynes Council.

M6

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when she expects the Highways Agency to implement its proposals for widening the M6 between junctions 11A and 19; and what estimate she has made of the cost of the scheme;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 171W, on the M1:M62, when she expects the Highways Agency to publish its findings on active traffic management measures for the M62 and M1.

Tom Harris: On 4 March 2008 the Secretary of State published the 'Advanced Motorway Signalling and Traffic Management Feasibility Study'. The Secretary of State also announced that the Department of Transport and the Highways Agency would undertake additional detailed work examining managed motorway schemes for those areas identified in the feasibility study as being a high priority, including stretches of the M1, M6 and M62. This includes examining whether hard shoulder running could provide a better value for money solution for schemes which were previously planned as widenings, and this will include the production of cost estimates for these hard shoulder running schemes.
	As part of this process, the cost estimates for the widening schemes following the Nichols review are subject to further work and validation. This work is under way and due to be complete by the end of the year. The results of this work will inform decisions on the composition of the roads programme and the timing of schemes within it.

Parking

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much staff are charged to park in the car parking facilities provided at each building operated by her Department and its agencies.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport does not charge staff to park in any of the car parking facilities it provides.

Railway Stations

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which rail stations will be upgraded as indicated in the White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, in the next control period; and what her timetable is for such upgrades.

Tom Harris: Major improvements to the stations at Reading and Birmingham New Street are expected to be completed by 2014.
	The Thameslink Programme includes major improvements at Blackfriars (completion expected by 2011-12), Farringdon (completion expected by 2011-12) and London Bridge (completion expected by 2015). More modest improvements are also expected at City Thameslink station for completion by the end of 2009, and at a number of outer area stations, most of which will be completed in the period 2009-14.
	Kings Cross station is being upgraded with a new concourse and is expected to be complete by 2012. There are also plans to upgrade Waterloo station, including making use of the former international terminal for domestic rail services, which will be progressed during the period 2009-14.
	A list of candidate stations for funding under the National Stations Improvement Programme was included as part of the April 2008 refresh of Network Rail's strategic business plan. The industry is continuing to refine this list and expects to be in a position to start confirming some of the stations in the programme later in the year.
	There will also be platform lengthening work across the network to accommodate longer trains throughout the period 2009-14.

Railways

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on the class of travel which staff in her Department are entitled to claim as an expense.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All business travel by staff of the Department for Transport and its agencies is undertaken in compliance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code. Staff are required to use the most cost effective means of travel appropriate to each journey.
	The Department and five of its agencies allow first class rail travel where necessary for senior grades (typically SEO equivalent and above). All others must use standard class except when necessarily accompanying senior colleagues, or where use of the higher class is unavoidable. Air travel is restricted to economy class or equivalent for flights up to 2.5 hours duration, and to business class or equivalent for longer flights.
	Two agencies operate variations on this policy. VGA stipulate that staff must always travel by the most cost effective manner, and VOSA require standard or economy class to be used for all journeys unless there are unavoidable reasons to upgrade.

Railways: Standards

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Answer of 20 December 2005,  Official Report, column 2914W, on c2c Line/One Rail to the hon. Member for Southend West, and the Answer of 1 February 2006,  Official Report, column 562W, on train operating companies to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, how many trains were cancelled in the last 12 months, broken down by train operating company; and what the reason was for each cancellation.

Tom Harris: The numbers of franchised passenger trains cancelled in the year to 31 March 2008, broken down by train operating company, are given in the following table.
	The reasons for each individual cancellation are not held by the Department.
	
		
			  Train operating company  Number of cancellations 
			 ATW 1,394 
			 c2c 1,249 
			 Chiltern 715 
			 Cross Country 1,267 
			 East Midlands 2,197 
			 FCC 4,280 
			 FGW 8,153 
			 First Scotrail 7,708 
			 Gatwick Express 334 
			 London Midland 5,622 
			 London Overground 2,376 
			 Merseyrail 1,847 
			 Northern 8,670 
			 NXEA 7,307 
			 NXEC 997 
			 Southeastern 4,614 
			 Southern 5,627 
			 South Western 3,890 
			 TPE 897 
			 Virgin West Coast 678 
			   
			 Network total 69,822 
		
	
	In total, this represents 1.2 per cent. of the trains which were scheduled to operate.

Road Traffic: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will visit Canvey Island during the rush hour period to meet residents and commuters to discuss ways to reduce congestion.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State for Transport is very aware of the issues facing Canvey Island, particularly when a road traffic collision occurs. At this stage in time, however, the Secretary of State's diary does not permit a visit. However, it is hoped a future ministerial visit to see progress with a range of transport projects in the Thames Gateway area could be arranged.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms are in place to ensure road maintenance meets high quality standards.

Rosie Winterton: The maintenance of local roads is the responsibility of local highway authorities. The Department for Transport endorses "Well-maintained Highways", the code of practice for highway maintenance produced by the UK Roads Board. This, together with its companion codes, "Well-lit Highways" and "Management of Highway Structures" provide best practice guidance—all to be found at:
	www.ukroadsliaisongroup.org
	The Highways Agency manages the trunk road network in England. Maintenance assessment and design standards are stipulated in the Design Manual for Road and Bridges and their implementation is guided by the Network Management Manual, the Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Works and a number of best practice advice notes. In addition, the Agency has comprehensive technical appraisal and prioritisation processes to help develop a consistent and robust road maintenance programme. The Agency works in partnership with road users, local communities, its managing agents and suppliers to develop its programme. The performance of their managing agents and their suppliers is monitored and reviewed regularly.

Roads: Safety

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the average cost of installing a speed hump.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of road humps can vary considerably, depending on the materials used. The indicative costs of constructing various types of road humps are shown in the following table which is extracted from Table 4.2 of 'Local Transport Note 1/07 Traffic Calming' which constitutes the Department for Transport's latest guidance on traffic calming.
	
		
			  Hump type  Cost (£) 
			 Round-top hump 400-1,000 
			 Flat-top hump >500 
			 Raised junction approx.10,000 
			 'S' hump 2,000 
			 'H' hump 2500 
			 Thermoplastic hump (thump) 300-500 
			 Speed cushion 240-700 
			 Pair of speed cushions 500-2000 
			  Note: Table shows the indicative cost of road humps. Costs given are approximate and for guidance only and do not include an allowance for inflation since the reports informing these prices were published.

Shipping: Freight

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from what sources information on cargo lost at sea is obtained and collated by the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea (ACOPS) collates data on oil and chemical pollution including packages lost at sea in the UK pollution control zone. Most reports are gathered through MCA Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) in the form of pollution reports (POLREPs). Those reports are collated into a database.
	In addition to reports received by the MRCCs, ACOPS also receives information from local authorities, ports and harbours and the UK environmental regulators.
	From this data, ACOPs produces an annual report on behalf of the MCA. These annual reports are published on the MCA website.
	Every 10 years, ACOPS reviews all reports of packaged and dangerous goods in order to examine trends of lost cargo over time. The International Maritime Organisation is consulted in respect of the review of such trends.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many successful prosecutions of drivers exceeding the speed limit in SPECS sites on the  (a) M25 and  (b) M11 there were in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not collected centrally. Statistics on prosecutions for speeding relate to police force areas, not specific roads or sites, and do not identify types of camera used to provide evidence.

Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on consultants on the specification for the new Thameslink rolling stock; and for what reason this matter was not deemed to be the responsibility of the rolling stock companies.

Tom Harris: As of the 31 May 2008, the Department of Transport has spent approximately £1.1 million on the development of the procurement exercise to provide the new Thameslink rolling stock. This includes support from financial, legal and technical consultants.
	In electing to lead the procurement, the Department identified that Thameslink is a highly complex programme with a clear requirement for the rolling stock specification and delivery to be aligned with the infrastructure works and planned train service operations. Successful integration of these elements sits with the Department. The Department also identified that there is a requirement for optimising the value of the investment and a need to address the aims of the Rail Technical Strategy published in July 2007.
	We considered that these issues were less likely to be fully addressed by a market led approach and there was a need for departmental leadership to ensure that the objectives of the Thameslink rolling stock programme are fully realised.

Transport

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account is taken of the time taken for journeys by different modes of transport when appraising transport schemes.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport appraises proposed transport schemes using the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA). Journey time impacts across all modes of transport are included in every NATA appraisal, and form an important element of the benefits of transport interventions.
	For the purpose of valuing changes in the duration of journeys NATA distinguishes between working, commuting and leisure trips. This reflects a large body of evidence on the values of time spent travelling. The values used in appraisal are provided by the WebTAG resource available at:
	http://www.webtag.org.uk/webdocuments/3_Expert/5_Economy _Objective/3.5.6.htm
	Most journey time savings typically accrue to people who are travelling in their own time, and are valued at either £5.04 per hour or £4.46 in 2002 prices, depending on whether time is saved from a journey to work or another destination. This is irrespective of the mode used.
	Transport schemes also reduce times taken for work-related journeys. These benefits are valued according to the average labour costs of individuals who travel by different modes of transport. The average value of working time across all working persons is £26.73 in 2002 prices. Further details of the values of working time applied in transport appraisals are set out in table 1 in the transport analysis guidance unit linked to above. A copy of the table follows. These do differ by mode: evidence indicates that business travellers are selective in the modes used during work, with the most productive business trips using taxi, with rail and underground also being of high value.
	
		
			  Table 1: Values of working time per person 
			  £ per hour, 2002 prices and values 
			  Vehicle occupant  Market price 
			 Car driver 26.43 
			 Car passenger 18.94 
			 LGV (driver or passenger) 10.18 
			 OGV (driver or passenger) 10.18 
			 PSV driver 10.18 
			 PSV passenger 20.22 
			 Taxi driver 9.77 
			 Taxi/Minicab passenger 44.69 
			 Rail passenger 36.96 
			 Underground passenger 35.95 
			 Walker 29.64 
			 Cyclist 17.00 
			 Motorcyclist 23.91 
			 Average of all working persons 26.73

Transport: Exhaust Emissions

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will place in the Library the databases used to calculate the average carbon dioxide emissions per person per journey within Great Britain via the Transport Direct website.

Rosie Winterton: A spreadsheet showing the CO2 values used for each mode of transport as at 4 June 2008 and also the other assumptions used to calculate journey distances has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Much of this information is available to Transport Direct users in the 'Frequently Asked Questions' section of the website.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Community Support Officers

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the introduction of police community support officers as recommended by the Patten Report;
	(2)  what financial arrangements have been made for the introduction of police community support officers in Northern Ireland;
	(3)  what the timescale is for the introduction of police community support officers as recommended in the Patten Report.

Paul Goggins: The evidence from England and Wales is that PCSOs can play an important role, alongside police and other police support staff, in making communities safer and providing public reassurance on local issues of concern.
	The Police Service of Northern Ireland has received a resource allocation in excess of £1.1 billion for each of the three years of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR07). The timing of the introduction of PCSOs is a matter for the Chief Constable to consider, in consultation with the Policing Board.

Fuels: Smuggling

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were  (a) charged with and  (b) convicted of the distribution or sale of illegal fuel in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Kitty Ussher: I have been asked to reply.
	In the last 12 months, eight people have been convicted of hydrocarbon oils fraud in Northern Ireland. In that period, six have been arrested in relation to suspected hydrocarbon oils fraud in cases which are being dealt with by information and summons.
	In the same period, in mainland Great Britain, one case involving four defendants has reached the prosecution stage.
	The number of people convicted in relation to hydrocarbon oils fraud in mainland Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the period 2007-08 will be published in the HMRC autumn performance report 2008, later this year.
	Criminal investigation and prosecution for hydrocarbon oils offences form only one part of HMRC's overall approach to tackling oils fraud, together with the investigation/prosecution of wider oils excise offences, combined with a strong regulatory control system and the civil penalties regime.

Homicide: Belfast

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the investigation of the murder of Thomas Devlin on 10 August 2005.

Paul Goggins: The PSNI are currently awaiting directions from the Public Prosecution Service in respect of their recommendations.

Offensive Weapons: Arrests

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland were arrested for an offence of possession of an offensive weapon or bladed article as a result of police usage of metal detection devices in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following answer:
	"The information sought is not recorded in the way requested but I can advise you that the total number of persons in Northern Ireland who were arrested for an offence of possession of an offensive weapon or bladed article between 01/04/2007 and 31/03/2008 was 568. Information regarding how many of these arrests were related to usage of metal detectors is not available".

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Recruitment

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage recruitment of young people from a Protestant background in inner city areas of Northern Ireland into the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: As recommended by the Report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, each Police Service of Northern Ireland recruitment campaign is advertised imaginatively and extensively through newspapers and the internet. This advertising is aimed at all parts of the community in Northern Ireland and covers both urban and rural areas.
	The PSNI also attend a wide range of careers fairs and recruitment events in schools, colleges and communities across Northern Ireland.
	Recruitment processes are constantly reviewed to ensure that they meet operational needs.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Accident Group

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received on  (a) allegations of audit failure at The Accident Group and  (b) the investigation of such allegations by the Financial Reporting Council; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: A check of records has revealed that such representations were received by the DTI from my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby and from the Association for Accountancy and Business Affairs.

Business: Females

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects to launch the women's enterprise campaign; and what recent assessment he has made of trends in women's enterprise activity.

Gareth Thomas: The Government are determined that we maximise the untapped economic dividend for the UK from increasing female entrepreneurship rates. The US has 20 per cent. more businesses per head than the UK. A significant proportion of this gap is explained by much lower rates of women's entrepreneurial activity in the UK. This goes to the heart of the UK's productivity and competitiveness.
	Discussions and market research are already under way with the aim of launching a Women's Enterprise Media Campaign "Spark an Idea" in September 2008. The campaign will be co-ordinated by Enterprise Insight, who are funded by my Department and which brings together an enterprise coalition of 25 national organisations from education, the voluntary sector, business and government. The campaign will specifically look to develop the awareness and potential of women who are under-represented in enterprise currently.
	The campaign is an integral part of a strong package of measures on women's enterprise announced recently in the Government's Enterprise Strategy. Those measures include provision for: £12.5 million of Government capital through a women's investment fund; women's business centre pilots; enhanced mentoring support; a new national enterprise centre of expertise; and activity aimed at opening up procurement opportunities to women-owned businesses. More information on the strategy is available at:
	www.berr.gov.uk/enterprisestrategy

Climate Change

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps are being taken by his Department to implement the recommendations of the second limb of the Stern Report, with particular reference to  (a) technological developments and  (b) carbon capture storage policy.

Malcolm Wicks: BERR welcomes the release of Lord Stern's Key Elements of a Global Deal paper. We hope it will stimulate debate, and more importantly, action. The report's findings will continue to feed into the Government's thinking on climate change.
	BERR is working to promote technology and investment cooperation both in the UK and overseas through a range of initiatives such as the Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). It also works with the Technology Strategy Board, the Energy Technologies Institute, the Carbon Trust and the Research Councils to ensure a cohesive approach to innovation.
	Between 2002 and 2008 the UK spent over £500 million on research and development in low carbon technologies, with funding continuing under the ETF. The creation of the Energy Technologies Institute in late 2007, a partnership between the public and private sectors, will coordinate up to £1 billion worth of RD and D funding into low carbon energy technology over the next 10 years.
	The Government recognise the global potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and are working in a number of ways to support its development. This includes a competition to develop the UK's first commercial-scale demonstration of CCS and supporting smaller scale R and D and demonstration of CCS technology, developing EU and domestic regulatory regimes for the safe and reliable storage of CO2 as well as amending international treaties to enable CCS technology. We are also working through the EU, G8, IEA and bilaterally to encourage the development and deployment of CCS internationally. Working towards a global consensus on the urgency of the need to demonstrate and deploy CCS has been a particular priority and we are working with EU partners to realise the Commission's ambition for up to 12 commercial scale CCS projects by 2015. We also strongly support the IEA's call to the G8 for 20 demonstration projects to be launched by 2010, and on leading the campaign to have this referred to in the final text at both the Energy Ministers and the Leaders Summit.

Coal: Exports

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the impact on exports of British coal of other EU member states' coal industry state aids; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In 2007, total UK coal production was approximately 17 million tonnes, predominantly of coal-fired electricity generation quality, the bulk of which was used within the UK. UK coal exports were under 0.6 million tonnes; this is understood to have included shipments to Ireland and Norway.
	The 27 European Union states import annually in the order of 120 million tonnes of coal from third countries for generation use.
	Total UK coal imports in 2007 were approximately 43 million tonnes, of which 22 million tonnes was from Russia and 12 million tonnes from South Africa. With regard to trade with other coal producing EU member states, 852,000 tonnes were imported from Poland, 46,000 tonnes from Spain and 41,000 tonnes from Germany.
	The impact of coal state aids under Council Regulation 1407/2002 on the coal market was considered as part of the report COM(2007)253 which, with its annex SEC(2007) 602, was published by the European Commission on 21 May 2007. This concluded that distortion of the coal market within the EU as a result of such aids seems to be limited by the fact that most subsidized coal covered by the Regulation is consumed in national markets, and that this suggests that there is little direct competition between coal produced in different member states. A possible exception is Germany, which has replaced parts of its indigenous production with imports from Poland and the Czech Republic.

Construction

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of difficulties in obtaining credit on the commercial construction industry in the next three years; and what steps he plans to take to support the industry over that period.

Malcolm Wicks: We continue to keep the availability of credit to business under review in all sectors, including construction, and have regular dialogue with the banks. Lending to the UK construction sector has increased throughout the first quarter of 2008. However, we have concerns about the potential impact of the credit crunch on property markets and the consequences for construction activity. House builders, in particular, are experiencing a slow-down in activity, with lower site visits and forward reservations.
	The Enterprise Strategy, published alongside the Budget, announced extended eligibility criteria for the small firms loan guarantee and a £60 million uplift in lending allocations designed to encourage greater usage of the scheme by the banks. Advice to businesses on managing their financial position in the current economic climate has been made available on businesslink.gov.uk Our proposed reforms to the 'Construction Act' published in the recent draft legislative programme 2008-09 will help promote better cash flow and greater certainty of payment in construction contracts.
	In addition, the Government recently announced that the Housing Corporation will provide up to £200 million for RSLs to purchase newly built properties from developers, where these are of an appropriate quality and represent value for money. These will be made available for first-time buyers to purchase through the existing homebuy scheme or for social rented tenancies.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on training courses for staff in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years.

Gareth Thomas: In financial year 2007-08, the Department spent £5,664,000 and its agencies £1,714,000 on training.
	Details of spend for preceding years are in the following table.
	
		
			  Expenditure 
			  £000 
			  Financial year  Department  Agencies  Total 
			 2006-07(1) 6,206 1,340 7,546 
			 2005-06(2) 7,827 1,662 9,489 
			 2004-05 7,730 2,072 9,802 
			 2003-04 6,497 1,920 8,417 
			 2002-03 6,327 1,449 7,776 
			 (1) For 2006-07 and earlier years, figures represent spend by the former Department of Trade and Industry, including functions transferred in 2007-08 to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. (2) For 2005-06 and earlier years, agency figures include expenditure by the Employment Tribunals Service, which transferred to the Ministry of Justice on 1 April 2006.

Fuel Poverty

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many households he estimates will be removed from fuel poverty by the measures recently announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Darling) announced in the Budget that the Government would work with energy suppliers to increase their spend on social programmes designed to help those vulnerable to fuel poverty. The Government reached individual agreements with each of the six largest suppliers in April to increase their collective spend to at least £150 million a year by 2010-11.
	The impact of this additional funding on the fuel poverty numbers will depend on how it is directed. If it is purely used to offset bills and equally distributed among the poorest households, then it could help to remove up to 100,000 of these from fuel poverty. Other scenarios may bring different benefits—for example, energy efficiency measures may benefit fewer but will be permanent. Energy suppliers will be free to determine how they target the additional spend within certain parameters currently being developed by Ofgem.
	In addition, the Chancellor announced a one-off additional supplement to the winter fuel payment of £50 for the over-60s and £100 for the over-80s. This will benefit around eight million pensioner households.
	The Government also announced action to investigate and tackle the high differential between the cost of energy to customers using prepayment meters and those paying by direct debit. Around 11 per cent. of the fuel poor pay for their gas via prepayment meters and around 20 per cent. of the fuel poor use prepayment meters for their electricity. Ofgem is currently investigating and is due to report in September. Subsequent action will depend on the outcome of Ofgem's investigation.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he has taken to publicise the Low Carbon Buildings Programme to  (a) homeowners and  (b) local authorities.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are working with the Energy Saving Trust to promote the Low Carbon Buildings Programme household funding stream. To date, we have used both their advice network and market segmentation models to target those that are most likely to install microgeneration technologies and apply for grants. Further details are available at:
	www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk
	BERR is currently working with the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 programme manager, to deliver a national awareness raising campaign at a series of regional events. They have been promoting the scheme through combination of articles, advertorials and advertising in media serving all target sectors. 50,000 promotional flyers have been produced and distributed to journals and potential applicants. We expect around 700 people from eligible organisations and local authorities to participate in the events.
	We also continue to investigate and pursue other avenues for promotion of the scheme. For example, working with colleagues from other Government Departments, BERR officials speak regularly at events and conferences to promote the programme. Promotional activities have also been undertaken by the framework suppliers of phase II of the LCBP.
	We have also published an energy measures report for local authorities compiling information they can use to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the levels of microgeneration in their communities.
	Further details of the report can be obtained from:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/environment/measures/page41270.html

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people in Houghton and Washington East constituency have had coal health claims settled since the scheme was introduced; and how much was paid out in relation to such claims.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of claimants in Houghton and Washington East constituency who have had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease claims (COPD) and Vibration White Finger claims settled are shown in the following table as at 1 June 2008.
	
		
			   Total claims settled( 1)  Total damages paid on settled claims (£ million) 
			 COPD 6,410 34.8 
			 VWF 2,301 29.1 
			 Total 8,711 63.9 
			 (1) Total claims settled includes claims settled by payment, denial, withdrawal or strike out.

North Sea Oil

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many barrels of oil were produced from the North Sea in each of the last 30 years; and what estimate he has made of the number of barrels to be produced in each of the next 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The information requested is in the following table. Historical and projected data on UK crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs) in tonnes have been converted into barrels assuming there are 7.5 barrels per tonne. Historical data are from http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/source/oil/page18470.html while projections through to 2013 are from https://www.og.berr.gov.uk/information/bb_updates/chapters/Section4_17.htm; a compound annual decline of 5.5 per cent. has been assumed thereafter.
	
		
			  UK production of oil and NGLs 
			   Million barrels 
			 1978 405 
			 1979 583 
			 1980 604 
			 1981 671 
			 1982 774 
			 1983 862 
			 1984 945 
			 1985 957 
			 1986 953 
			 1987 925 
			 1988 858 
			 1989 688 
			 1990 687 
			 1991 684 
			 1992 707 
			 1993 751 
			 1994 949 
			 1995 974 
			 1996 972 
			 1997 960 
			 1998 994 
			 1999 1,028 
			 2000 945 
			 2001 875 
			 2002 870 
			 2003 796 
			 2004 715 
			 2005 635 
			 2006 574 
			 2007 576 
			 2008 539 
			 2009 509 
			 2010 484 
			 2011 461 
			 2012 437 
			 2013 411 
			 2014 388 
			 2015 367 
			 2016 346 
			 2017 327

Piracy

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps have been taken  (a) by the UK and  (b) with other countries to protect (i) marine trade routes and (ii) critical parts of marine trade routes to and from the UK from (A) piracy, (B) accidents and (C) other forms of disruption; what assessment has been made of the levels of such risks on each route; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Government take a proactive role in working with our international partners, such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and foreign governments and the shipping industry to develop international legislation and guidance for shipping transiting trade routes. At both Government and operational levels this includes collaborating with other navies and coastguards through a series of combined operations and strategic alliances to ensure that the vital sea lanes and choke points are safe to navigate. Also, the Government monitor and assess the risk of terrorism to sea lanes and, as appropriate, set the security level for UK and Red Ensign Group registered ships operating in these areas and advise industry accordingly.
	The Government also issue guidance to industry in measures to counter piracy and armed robbery and safe distances of transit in piracy hotspots.
	Recently, the UK co-sponsored the UNSC resolution addressing the problem of piracy off Somalia. Under the terms of resolution 1816 (2008), which was adopted unanimously, the Security Council decided that states co-operating with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) would be allowed, for a period of six months, to enter the country's territorial waters and use "all necessary means" to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, in a manner consistent with relevant provisions of international law.
	Furthermore, the Government are committed to ratifying into UK law the 2005 protocols to the convention for the suppression of unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation, by way of the proposed Transport Security Bill. Notably, this Bill will provide powers to board ships that are suspected of being involved in acts of piracy.
	The UK plays an active role in the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee and Subcommittee on the Safety of Navigation to prevent accidents at sea. In this forum we seek consensus on ships' routeing measures to reduce the risk of groundings or collisions.
	Where UK waters are concerned, moreover, the Government have a strategic approach to protecting the UK's seas and coasts which involves all of the following:
	we have put in place a network of shore-based stations around the UK coastline to monitor vessel traffic, using automatic identification system technology;
	we ensure that powerful tug boats (commonly referred to as "emergency towing vessels") are available, so that they can assist ships which lose motive power;
	we have established arrangements whereby a ship requiring assistance, and whose condition needs to be stabilised, can be brought to a place of refuge;
	we have a highly effective structure for command and control of an incident, in which the Secretary of State's representative for maritime salvage and intervention (SOSREP) plays a major role;
	we have a fully developed national contingency plan, consistent with the international convention on oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation 1990 (the "OPRC Convention"); and
	we participate actively in international assistance and co-operation arrangements of a bipartite, multipartite or regional nature, again consistent with the OPRC convention.

Renewable Energy: Seas and Oceans

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he has commissioned research into the potential siting of generators which capture energy from very large ocean swell; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has published detailed information on the UK's wave energy resource in the Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Energy Resources: A Strategic Environmental Assessment Report, March 2008. This can be accessed on the Department's Strategic Environmental Assessment website at:
	http://www.offshore-sea.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info .php?categoryID=21documentedID=25

Retail Trade: Competition

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects the Competition Commission's final report into the UK grocery market to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Competition Commission's final report into the UK grocery market was published on 30 April. The full report and annexes can be found at
	http://www.competition-commission.gov.uk/inquiries/ref2006/grocery/groceries_inquiry_news.hm
	The Government expect to publish their response before the summer recess.

Solar Power: Boilers

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will bring forward proposals to prohibit the sale of domestic boilers that are incompatible with solar water-heating panels; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not necessary to prohibit the sale of any domestic boiler as they all have the potential to be compatible with solar water-heating panels. However, there are criteria that have to be observed when incorporating a solar water-heating panel within a boiler-based heating system to ensure its safe operation.

Tidal Power

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress has been made with Pulse Tidal's Humber tidal stream energy test project; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: On 7 April 2008, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State granted consent under the Transport and Works Act 1992 to Pulse Tidal Ltd. for their prototype tidal stream generator at Upper Burcom on the River Humber. Although construction and operation of the device is now a matter for Pulse Tidal to take forward, I understand that construction of the device has begun.

Wind Power

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the costs are estimated to be of connecting to the National Grid proposed windfarms estimated to be necessary to meet Government targets; what estimate he has made of the lengths of overhead pylons required to connect such windfarms to the Grid; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Investment in electricity networks is made by the Transmission Owners and Distribution Network Operators under the regulatory supervision of Ofgem.
	In terms of investment over the next few years, Ofgem have agreed 560 million of investment in the transmission network specifically to connect new renewable generation in Scotland and the North of England. In the Transmission Price Control, which covers the five year period from 1 April 2007, a further 3.8 billion of investment in the transmission network was agreed. This figure includes both refurbishment and the costs of connecting new generators of all types and may increase if warranted by generator demand.
	The Department is currently preparing a document that will be published as part of the Government's consultation on developing a strategy for achieving the UK's contribution towards the European Union renewable energy target of 20 per cent. by 2020. Delivering our contribution is likely to require a significant increase in renewable electricity that goes beyond our current target of 10 per cent. by 2010 and the aspiration to increase it to 20 per cent. by 2020.
	An independent study commissioned in support of this work is considering electricity network related issues including the estimated costs and scale of any additional network infrastructure that will be needed to meet the EU target. The study considers a range of scenarios and the final report will be published together with the consultation document.

Wind Power

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what factors are taken into account when his Department assesses applications for new offshore wind farms.

Malcolm Wicks: In considering applications for offshore wind farms, Ministers will consider all relevant factors that are drawn to their attention by members of the public, the Government's statutory advisers and others with an interest in the proposed development and set these against the need for electricity generation from renewable energy sources.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Sports

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sports facilities are available to service personnel and their families on each base, broken down by  (a) base,  (b) facilities and  (c) cost to users.

Derek Twigg: Records held by Defence Estates indicate the following numbers of sports facilities exist in the UK and overseas (figures are approximate):
	
		
			   Number 
			 Sports pavilions 180 
			 Sports halls 430 
			 Sports pitches 440 
			 Sports tracks 140 
			 Squash courts 230 
			 Swimming pools 70 
			 Tennis courts 480 
		
	
	To provide more comprehensive or detailed information or to break facilities down on a site by site basis would entail disproportionate cost.

Colombia: Armed Forces

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which units Colombian state security forces came who received training at UK military establishments in each year since 2002; and how many Colombian state security services personnel received training at UK military establishments in each year since 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence does not record the units of foreign personnel receiving training at UK military establishments. 21 Colombian personnel, in total, have commenced training in the UK since 2002. The numbers attending by year, and their year of attendance, are given in the following table. The courses provided are educational courses for staff officers, or bomb disposal experts.
	
		
			  Fiscal year  Number of Colombian students 
			 2001-02 1 
			 2002-03 1 
			 2003-04 5 
			 2004-05 7 
			 2005-06 2 
			 2006-07 2 
			 2007-08 3

Defence: Secondary Education

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  who has  (a) contributed resources to,  (b) offered to develop and  (c) taken part in online polls relating to the Defence Dynamics e-learning tool;
	(2)  what the results were of  (a) the online polls and  (b) the rating of lessons in relation to the Defence Dynamics e-learning tool website;
	(3)  what  (a) representations he has received on and  (b) audit he has conducted of the e-learning product Defence Dynamics; and if he will place in the Library copies of the representations received;
	(4)  how many students have used the e-learning product Defence Dynamics;
	(5)  how many people have registered on the Defence Dynamics website;
	(6)  who have registered on the Defence Dynamics website have  (a) used interactive exercises,  (b) registered a class,  (c) used teaching materials,  (d) accessed the multimedia library,  (e) downloaded multimedia resources,  (f) used forums,  (g) filed a complaint and  (h) reported technical problems;
	(7)  how many schools have  (a) acquired and  (b) used the multi-media tool Defence Dynamics cited at page 25 of the Report of the Inquiry into National Recognition of our Armed Forces.

Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member.

Departmental Official Residences

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what official residences are owned by his Department; and what the  (a) office held by each resident,  (b) address and  (c) value is of each such residence.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 5 June 2008
	There are currently 32 Official Service Residences (OSR) which are listed in the following table. While the area in which the residence is located is given, the address has been withheld in the interests of security.
	OSRs are properties either owned or leased by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and designated as a residence for a post which carries representational hosting responsibility for the entertainment and/or accommodation of senior or influential guests. It is the post and not the residence that carries OSR status.
	Of the 22 OSR properties in Great Britain, 13 are MOD owned, eight are owned by Annington Homes Ltd. and one is part of a Royal Palace. Of the 10 OSR overseas, four are MOD owned, with the remainder provided by the host nation.
	Market values of MOD-owned properties are not obtained unless disposal is proposed.
	
		
			  MOD Post Title  OSR location 
			 Chief of Defence Staff London 
			 Vice Chief of Defence Staff London 
			 First Sea Lord/Chief of Naval Staff London 
			 Second Sea Lord/Commander in Chief, Naval Home Command Portsmouth 
			 Commodore/Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth 
			 Commander-in-Chief (CinC) FLEET London 
			 Deputy CinC FLEET Portsmouth 
			 Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces Portsmouth 
			 Flag Officer Sea Training Plymouth 
			 Flag Officer Northern England and Northern Ireland Helensburgh 
			 General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Ireland Lisburn 
			 Chief of General Staff London 
			 Adjutant General Tidworth 
			 Commandant Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Camberley 
			 CinC LAND Bulford 
			 Commandant Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Wegberg, Germany 
			 GOC l (UK) Div Herford, Germany 
			 GOC 2 DIV Edinburgh 
			 GOC London District London 
			 GOC United Kingdom Support Group (Germany) Wegberg, Germany 
			 CinC Air Command Buckinghamshire 
			 Chief of Air Staff London 
			 Deputy CinC Personnel Buckinghamshire 
			 Commandant RAF College Cranwell 
			 Commandant Joint Service Command and Staff College Shrivenham 
			 Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Belgium 
			 Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic Virginia, USA 
			 UK Military Representative Brussels 
			 Deputy Commander Joint Forces Command Brunssum Netherlands 
			 Joint Forces Command HQ Deputy Commander Naples, Italy 
			 Chief of Joint OperationsLondon London 
			 Commander British Forces Cyprus Cyprus

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British soldiers have been embedded in the  (a) Iraqi 10th division,  (b) Iraqi 14th division and (c) other Iraqi units in each month since January.

Des Browne: We began our policy of embedding personnel within the Iraqi army and its chain of command at the beginning of April this year. Prior to this, while we were not embedding, we had established a very close and effective training relationship with first 10th Division and then, following its establishment, with 14th Division. A considerable number of UK forces remain focused on this vital work of monitoring, mentoring and training the Iraqi security forces, with many of the balance providing direct support to it.
	As of 30 April 2008, 94 UK personnel were embedded with 14th Division and 73 collocated with the Basra Operations Command. In addition to this number, UK forces also provide direct and substantial assistance to the Iraqi army both in the planning and conduct of their operations. We have also established a six-strong liaison team at Basra Palace.
	There are currently no British soldiers embedded with the Iraqi army's 10(th) Division.
	We have continued in our efforts to help develop the Iraqi navy and some 116 UK personnel, based at Umm Qasr Port, have been involved in this task.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel have suffered damage to their  (a) sight and  (b) hearing as a consequence of service in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 6 June 2008
	The following tables show the numbers of UK service personnel who have attended the Role 2 (Enhanced), or Role 3 field hospital facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan with ophthalmic and ear nose and throat (ENT) conditions. Available records of this type do not separately identify those with only hearing problems.
	
		
			  Ophthalmology 
			   Iraq (March 2003 to December 2007)  Afghanistan (April 2006 to December 2007) 
			 Injuries 888 146 
			 Illness 472 34 
			 Total 1,360 180 
		
	
	
		
			  Ear/nose/throat (ENT) 
			   Iraq (March 2003 to December 2007)  Afghanistan (April 2006  to  December 2007) 
			 Injuries 104 23 
			 Illness 500 58 
			 Total 604 81 
		
	
	The tables show initial attendances only. The figures were compiled using the Operational Emergency Department Attendance Register (OpEDAR), which records all patients who have attended or been admitted through the A and E department of either a UK Role 2(E) or UK Role 3 operational hospital. OpEDAR is designed to capture diagnosis at the initial assessment, rather than track a patient through their care. It is possible for diagnosis to change over the course of treatment or for a patient to have multiple conditions.
	These figures have been centrally compiled and there may, therefore, be a small percentage of cases that have not been entered into the reporting system.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fatalities of service personnel in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan have been as a result of (i) heatstroke and (ii) other heat-related illness.

Derek Twigg: Since 2003, coroners' inquests to date have found that two service personnel have died as a result of heat related conditions while serving in Iraq. There have been no heat related fatalities in Afghanistan. Additionally, one heat related fatality was recorded in Oman, in 2003, during Exercise Saif Sarea.

Military Aircraft: Aid

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria determine the use of military aircraft for deploying humanitarian aid.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) uses military aircraft if they are necessary to deliver humanitarian aid where civil aircraft are not suitable or are insufficient and if military aircraft can be spared from defence purposes. For example, DFID used military aircraft in addition to civil aircraft and other delivery channels in response to the Pakistan earthquake in 2005. DFID and the Ministry of Defence have an agreement for the use of military assets in humanitarian aid, including aircraft, when required and available. Wherever possible DFID will use civil aircraft, to take advantage of their generally greater carrying capacity and availability and in accordance with internationally agreed practice and guidelines (the Oslo Guidelines) on the use of military assets in disaster relief. All DFID's relief flights into Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis have been civil.

Suez: Navy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records he holds on the number of navy personnel who  (a) served in the Suez canal zone between 1951 and 1954 and  (b) served in the Suez canal zone during the period 1951 to 1954 for a period of 30 or more days continuous service.

Derek Twigg: Royal Navy personnel records are not organised in such a way as to show the numbers of Royal Navy personnel who served in the Suez canal zone between 195l and 1954.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

National Income: Immigration

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the impact of (a) gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and (b) GDP per capita of the resident population on levels of immigration; and what plans he has to commission further such research.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	The issue of the links between migration and GDP and GDP per head was raised by the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs in its report, The Economic Impact of Immigration (Session 2007-08 HL Paper 82). The Government are considering the recommendations made by the Committee and will provide a formal response shortly. I shall arrange for copies of the response to be placed in the Library of both Houses and for a copy to be sent to the hon. Gentleman.

PRIME MINISTER

Higher Civil Servants

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister whether permanent secretaries of Government departments are responsible for holding information relating to the work of  (a) existing and  (b) former special advisers in their departments.

Gordon Brown: Special advisers are employed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Japan

Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what matters in respect of bilateral co-operation on energy policy were discussed in his meeting with his Japanese counterpart on 2 June.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed whaling with the Japanese Prime Minister during his visit on 2 June 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I discussed a wide range of issues with Prime Minister Fukuda on his recent visit. I refer the hon. Members to the press conference I held with the Prime Minister Fukuda on 2 June 2008. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website
	http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page15726.asp
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carers' Allowances

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in carer's allowance in each year since its introduction.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Invalid care allowance-carer's allowance expenditure 
			   million, nominal terms 
			   Outturn 
			 1976-77 2 
			 1977-78 3 
			 1978-79 4 
			 1979-80 4 
			 1980-81 5 
			 1981-82 6 
			 1982-83 8 
			 1983-84 10 
			 1984-85 11 
			 1985-86 13 
			 1986-87 104 
			 1987-88 184 
			 1988-89 173 
			 1989-90 184 
			 1990-91 208 
			 1991-92 285 
			 1992-93 345 
			 1993-94 442 
			 1994-95 526 
			 1995-96 617 
			 1996-97 736 
			 1997-98 746 
			 1998-99 782 
			 1999-2000 835 
			 2000-01 867 
			 2001-02 932 
			 2002-03 993 
			 2003-04 1,054 
			 2004-05 1,096 
			 2005-06 1,149 
			 2006-07 1,181 
			 2007-08 (estimated outturn) 1,262 
			  Notes: 1. Invalid care allowance was introduced in 1976 but only for men and single women caring for a relative. 2. In 1986 invalid care allowance was extended to married women. 3. Name changed from invalid care allowance to carer's allowance in 2003.

Carers: Grandparents

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support is available to grandparents who care full time for their grandchildren.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 9 June 2008
	Grandparents who are responsible for children are able to claim the same benefits as all other persons responsible for children; the exact amounts that they receive will depend upon the individual circumstances of each case.

Carers: Grandparents

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training is available to staff dealing with benefit claims to help them assist grandparents who care for their grandchildren to access appropriate benefits.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 9 June 2008
	There is no specific training for staff when dealing with benefit claims from grandparents who care for grandchildren. In all cases, staff will consider the circumstances of people caring for children and will ensure that they are given the support and guidance required. In many cases this will involve signposting the customer to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs who administer most benefits and allowances for children.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department does not record levels of food waste. Food waste generated from the Department's work based catering outlets is generally at a low level due to the strict protocols in place to minimise it.

Housing Benefit

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which local authorities have made discretionary housing payments to tenants who are having difficulties paying their rent;
	(2)  how much of the discretionary housing payment allocated to local authorities has been paid to tenants who are having difficulties paying their rent;
	(3)  what proportion of the discretionary housing payment allocated to local authorities in the UK has been paid to tenants who are having difficulties paying their rent.

James Plaskitt: Discretionary housing payments are administered by local authorities and the reasons for payment are not collated centrally.

Incapacity Benefit

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average duration was of a finished incapacity benefit claim commenced in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 2 June 2008
	 The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of terminated incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claims commencing in each year since 1997 by duration 
			  Year ending August  Number of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance commencements  Number of the commencements whose claim has now terminated (since 1997)  Average (median) duration of the commencements whose claim has now terminated (since 1997) (days) 
			 1997 997,100 885,000 161 
			 1998 869,100 762,600 153 
			 1999 828,200 716,000 159 
			 2000 798,900 674,200 167 
			 2001 774,300 633,600 174 
			 2002 727,100 586,700 168 
			 2003 714,000 555,100 166 
			 2004 686,900 512,700 165 
			 2005 638,300 444,200 149 
			 2006 599,100 369,500 135 
			 2007 588,400 210,300 88 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers of claims are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Both the number of claims terminated and the average length of terminated claims are subject to revision. This is particularly the case for more recent years as claims recorded as terminating subsequently will have the effect of increasing the average length of claim.  Source:  DWP Information Directorate 5 per cent. terminations dataset.

Incapacity Benefit: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the target figure for reducing the number of incapacity benefit claimants by 2010 is for each local authority area in Hampshire.

Anne McGuire: Our aim is to reduce the national incapacity benefits caseload by one million over the decade to 2015. We do not have area specific aims as part of this. We are committed to meeting our stretching long term goal, and believe it will support the delivery of real change over the coming years. Our upcoming Green Paper will consult on how best to build on our progress so far.

Incapacity Benefit: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of people receiving incapacity benefit in  (a) Leeds Metropolitan District and  (b) Leeds West constituency.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants in Leeds metropolitan district and Leeds, West parliamentary constituency: November 2007 
			   Number of people 
			 Leeds Metropolitan District 31,560 
			 Leeds, West Parliamentary Constituency 4,590 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures include credits only cases.  Source:  Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS data.

Income Support

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much he expects to spend on each type of income support in each of the next five years.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 6 June 2008
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Income support planned expenditure by type 
			   million nominal terms 
			   Client groups 
			   Long-term sick and disabled  Short-term sick  Lone parents  Others 
			 2008-09 4,661 255 2,517 293 
			 2009-10 4,206 36 1,652 279 
			 2010-11 3,658 14 1,454 302 
			  Notes:  1 Figures are plans only and are subject to change.  2 Expenditure plans are only produced for the Comprehensive Spending Review period.   Source:  DWP Spring forecasts, as published in DWP expenditure tables

Pensioners: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the numbers of  (a) male and  (b) female pensioners in Leeds West constituency.

Mike O'Brien: The state pension caseload is in the following table.
	
		
			  Gender  Total 
			 Male 4,770 
			 Female 8,160 
			  Notes:  1. Caseload figures are as at 30 November 2007.  2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Some additional disclosure control has also been applied.  3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.  Source:  DWP Information DirectorateWork and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Post Office Card Account

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the future of the Post Office card account following the expiry of the current contract.

James Plaskitt: The existing Post Office card account contract ends in March 2010 as always planned. We are currently in the process of procuring a successor to the existing Post Office card account. An announcement will be made later this year in accordance with appropriate procurement rules once a decision has been reached.

Post Office Card Account

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to announce the result of the tender for a replacement of the Post Office card account; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 9 June 2008
	We are currently in the process of procuring a successor to the existing Post Office card account. An announcement will be made later this year in accordance with appropriate procurement rules once a decision has been reached.

Post Office Card Account

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria for rural access are required to be met by those tendering for the replacement of the Post Office card account.

James Plaskitt: The notice that appeared in the Official Journal of the European Union for the replacement to the Post Office card account specified that customer access to cash is requested at ATMs and personal teller outlets located throughout the UK. The contractors are asked to detail their intended number and the location of outlets, but the size of the network is expected to be in the region of 10,000 outlets.

Social Security Benefits

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appointeeships there were  (a) in 2007 and  (b) in total over the last 10 years.

Anne McGuire: The information for the last 10 years is not available.
	As at December 2007, the number of customers in Great Britain whose benefit payments were made to appointees was 526,320.
	 Notes:
	1. Benefit data is included for pension credit, retirement pension, severe disablement allowance, incapacity benefit, income support, jobseekers allowance, widows benefit and bereavement benefit. Appointee information for other benefits is not available.
	2. If a person has an appointee registered for more than one benefit then the appointee is only counted once in the above figure.
	3. The figure is rounded to the nearest 10.
	 Source: Information Directorate, 100 per cent sample.

Social Security Benefits: Arrears

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the reduction in backdating periods for pension credit, council tax benefit and housing benefit; and what estimate he has made of the number of claims for backdating for periods of over three months in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 6 June 2008
	The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) is currently consulting on the package of regulations which include the changes to the time allowed for pensioners to claim pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit and reducing the backdating period for housing benefit and council tax benefit customers of working age. Once the consultation period is over the SSAC will produce a report which will include a summary of the representations they have received. The SSAC report and the Secretary of State's response to the consultation will be published. A number of representations have been submitted directly to the Department, which will all receive due consideration.
	I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1699W, which provides available data on the number of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit claims backdated for over three months over the last five years.

Social Security Benefits: Pensioners

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of pensioners who will be entitled to (i) means-tested benefits and (ii) pension credits in (A) 2010, (B) 2020, (C) 2030, (D) 2040 and (E) 2050; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 6 June 2008
	 The latest projections of the proportion of pensioners entitled to means-tested benefits, including pension credit, are published in table three and table one respectively of the factsheet Proportions of entitlement to Income Related Benefits to 2050, placed in the Library on 2 June 2008.
	The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Projected number and proportion of pensioner households entitled to income-related benefits in selected years 
			   Any income related benefit  Pension credit 
			   Number (million)  Proportion (percentage)  Number (million)  Proportion (percentage) 
			 2010 6.0 55 4.5 45 
			 2020 5.5 55 4.0 40 
			 2030 5.5 50 4.0 35 
			 2040 5.5 45 3.5 30 
			 2050 5.0 40 3.5 30 
			  Notes: 1. All estimates are given on a United Kingdom basis, consistent with the Pensions Bill regulatory impact assessment. 2. Estimates are given for financial years. For example, estimates for 2010 relate to the financial year 2010-11. 3. Estimates account for the state pension reforms in the Pensions Act 2007. 4. Estimates do not take account of the effect of the private pension reforms in the current Pensions Bill, such as personal accounts and auto-enrolment. 5. Pensioners are defined as single people or couples containing at least one person of qualifying age for pension credit, including those in residential care. 6. Estimates account for equalisation of state pension age between 2010 and 2020. They also account for the increases in state pension age between 2024 and 2046. The estimates assume that the minimum age at which people can claim pension credit rises in line with (women's) state pension age. 7. Entitlement to any income related benefit is defined as entitlement to at least one of pension credit, housing benefit or council tax benefit. 8. Projections are designed to illustrate the impact of benefit policy under a set of reasonable assumptions. They are sensitive to modelling assumptions and to projected changes in the distribution of pensioner incomes. Estimated numbers and proportions have been rounded to the nearest 0.5 million and 5 per cent. respectively. 9. Projections for proportions entitled to individual benefits have been calibrated to National Statistics estimates for past years, which adjust Family Resources Survey data to take account of possible biases in reporting. The National Statistics are published as a range; the projections have been calibrated to the mid-point of that range. 10. There are no corresponding National Statistics estimates to calibrate projected proportions entitled to any income related benefit, so these estimates are subject to greater uncertainty.  Source: DWP Projections

State Retirement Pensions: Married People

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what entitlement a married man has to a state retirement pension on the basis of contributions made by his wife; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: At present, only a married woman may claim a state pension (of up to 54.35 a week, at current rates) on the basis of contributions made by her husband. This will change after April 2010 when those provisions in the state pension scheme that are still unequal as between men and women begin to be equalised. This will mean that a married man whose wife was born on or after 6 April 1950 (and who will therefore reach pension age herself after April 2010) will be entitled to such a pension on the same terms as a married woman. This change will also apply to people in civil partnerships.

Welfare State: EC Enlargement

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his timetable is for the publication of the findings of the cross-Whitehall unit examining the effects of EEA migration on the welfare state.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 4 June 2008
	The review of EEA nationals' access to benefits will report by autumn 2008.

Winter Fuel Payments

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what additional assistance his Department is giving to help pensioners pay their fuel bills.

Mike O'Brien: Alongside the winter fuel payment in winter 2008-09 we will be making an additional payment of 50 for households with someone aged 60-79 and 100 for households with someone aged 80 or over to help with rising fuel bills.
	We have secured an agreement with the big six energy companies to provide an extra 225 million in social assistance over the next three years. We are exploring ways to share information with the energy suppliers to help them target this extra money on the poorest pensioners.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa: Peacekeeping Operations

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with African Union member states on the contribution of military forces to the African Union peacekeeping operations in  (a) Sudan and  (b) Somalia.

Meg Munn: My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, and senior officials have recently discussed, with several African countries, their current and potential troop contributions to the UN-African Union (AU) Mission in Darfur, including at the AU summit from 31 January-1 February.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has discussed the Ugandan deployment to the AU Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) with President Museveni. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown have raised deployment to AMISOM with Ghana and Nigeria, who have indicated that they were willing to contribute troops.

Bangladesh: Politics and Government

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely  (a) effectiveness and  (b) impartiality of the Bangladesh Truth and Accountability Commission.

Kim Howells: The caretaker government in Bangladesh is in the early stages of examining proposals for a Truth Commission. Full details of how such a Commission might operate have not yet been published. The UK believes that a Truth Commission must be transparent and serve the interests of justice. We support the fight against corruption and promote the need for transparency as a cornerstone of sustainable democracy across the world.

Bombs

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of  (a) speeches made by the United Kingdom delegation at and  (b) documentation submitted to the cluster munitions conference held in Dublin in May; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the conference.

Kim Howells: Copies of the documents requested by the hon. Member will be placed in the Library of the House. They are also available at the website of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions:
	www.clustermunitionsdublin.ie.
	As my noble Friend, Lord Malloch-Brown, made clear in another place on 3 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 79-80, we are delighted to have played a leading role in bringing about the new draft convention, which was adopted in Dublin on 30 May. We plan to sign the convention when it opens for signature on 3 December in Oslo. We are studying the text to see if legislation is needed before we can ratify. We have taken a significant step towards implementing its norms by ceasing to use all the UK's cluster munitions with immediate effect and by starting the procedure to withdraw them from service. We believe that the new convention will help to make the world a safer place.

Burma: Politics and Government

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received regarding the assassination of the Karen National Union leader from Burma, Padoh Mahn Sha; and whether he has discussed this matter with his Thai counterpart.

Meg Munn: To date, we have received no conclusive reports on which person or parties were involved in the assassination of Padoh Mahn Sha on 14 February 2008. The case is still under investigation by the Thai police.
	I discussed the murder of Padoh Mahn Sha with Thai Interior Minister Chalerm Ubamrung during my last visit to Thailand in February, who confirmed that investigations continue.

Burma: Politics and Government

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what reports he has received of the visit to the UK by representatives of the Karen National Union Peace Council; and what discussions he has held on this matter;
	(2)  what meetings he has had with representatives of the  (a) Karen National Union Peace Council and  (b) Karen National Union in the last 12 months.

Meg Munn: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials held a meeting with a visiting delegation from the National Council of the Union of Burma on 23 April 2008 at which the Karen National Union (KNU) was represented. Discussion focused on the role of the exile community in the constitutional referendum in Burma. We have not met representatives of the KNU Peace Council or received any reports of a visit of that organisation to the UK.

Burma: Politics and Government

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he or his officials have held with Pastor Timothy Laklem or other representatives of Asian Tribal Ministries.

Meg Munn: Our embassy in Rangoon, including staff of the Department for International Development, meets representatives from a broad range of Thailand based Burmese organisations, including Asian Tribal Ministries. Officials have not had recent meetings with Pastor Timothy Laklem.

Burma: Politics and Government

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Burmese authorities to encourage them to permit the Red Cross into areas of conflict in eastern Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: In November 2006 the Government made two ministerial statements strongly condemning the Burmese government's decision to order the closure of the field offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). These statements were transmitted to the Burmese Ministers of Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Health, Labour, and National Economic Planning and Development.
	On the 29 June 2007, a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development (DFID) statement was issued condemning the Burmese regime's chronic failure to co-operate with the ICRC, which had led the organisation to suspend its operations inside the country. This development was a serious setback to the efforts of the international community to alleviate the suffering of the ordinary people of Burma.
	Subsequently the DFID Office and our embassy in Rangoon have continued to press the Burmese authorities to reverse their decision.

Cuba: Human Rights

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the Cuba government's decision to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Meg Munn: Cuba's signature of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a welcome signal. Our assessment is that Cuba is not currently in a position to comply with all the terms of the covenant and there are notable shortcomings which Cuba will have to address. We look forward to implementation of the terms of the covenant by Cuba and ratification by the People's Assembly, when the covenant will become binding under international law.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The latest available data on the disability status and ethnic background of civil servants in Departments and Agencies are as at 30 September 2006 and are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as Civil Service Statistics 2006. Information can be accessed from the following websites:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899 Pos=ColRank=1Rank=422
	and
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006 CivilServiceStatistics.pdf
	The data for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), its agency Wilton Park, and FCO Servicesits Trading Fundare as follows:
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Declared disabled 250 4 
			 Ethnic Minority 480 7.8 
		
	
	The latest available data on the gender of civil servants are as at 31 December 2007 and are published by the ONS, as part of their wider Quarterly Public Sector Employment Statistics. Information can be accessed from the following website:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=13615
	The data for the FCO are as follows:
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Female 2,520 41.3 
			 Male 3,580 58.7 
		
	
	We do not collect or publish information on civil servants' sexual orientation. Declaration of ethnicity and disability status is voluntary. The FCO encourages all staff to declare their ethnicity and any disability. The FCO is committed to embracing and harnessing difference, creating equality of opportunity and eliminating discrimination. We aim to achieve this as an employer, a service provider and a policy developer.

Departmental Postal Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office sends mail overseas through contracted delivery companies. The annual costs each year are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Company  Cost () 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 Excel Logistics 1,582,877 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 Excel Logistics 1,532,486 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 Excel Logistics 1,444,644 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 Excel Logistics 1,361,530 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 Excel Logistics/DHL Global Forwarding(1) 1,298,179 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 DHL Global Forwarding 1,284,271 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 DHL Global Forwarding 1,250,638 
			 (1) From October 2005 
		
	
	The FCO delegates budgets to posts overseas for postal services to the UK and to other countries. No central record is kept, and to obtain the information would incur disproportionate cost.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 708W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what Fairtrade products are  (a) available for purchase at his Department's staff catering facilities and  (b) offered at official departmental meetings and engagements.

Meg Munn: The Fairtrade products available for purchase at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) catering facilities are as follows:
	tea, coffee, biscuits, flapjacks, chocolate, juices and cake.
	All of the above are available on request for official departmental meetings and engagements via the FCO Hospitality Booking website.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 708W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what the value was of Fairtrade produce purchased at his Department's staff catering facilities in each of the last three financial years; and what proportion of total revenue this represented.

Meg Munn: The total value of Fairtrade purchases made by the catering facilities within the Foreign Commonwealth Office over the last three years was:
	King Charles Street (London)172,800, which equates to 18 per cent. of the total revenue;
	Old Admiralty Buildings (London)64,800, which equates to 25 per cent. of the total revenue; and
	Hanslope Park (Milton Keynes)90,000, which equates to 13 per cent. of the total revenue.

International Relations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed in the meetings of 11 to 12 May 2008 between the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State with responsibility for Europe and the Minister of State for Africa, Asia and the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, and I met separately with the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Gisladottir, on 12 May 2008.
	My discussions with Mrs. Gisladottir covered both bilateral and multilateral issues including Iceland's candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, the current situation in Afghanistan, the European economic area financial mechanism and the discussions between the UK, Iceland, Ireland and Denmark on the subject of the continental shelf in the Hatton Rockall area of the north-east Atlantic. I also raised whaling with Mrs. Gisladottir.
	My noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown, and Mrs. Gisladottir discussed political developments in Africa, the current situation in Somalia, and an Icelandic initiative to promote sustainable fisheries in southern Africa.

Japan: Offences Against Children

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the governments of  (a) Japan,  (b) Thailand,  (c) Cambodia and  (d) Vietnam on the prevention of child sexual abuse and paedophilia in those countries.

Meg Munn: The UK has made no direct representations to Japan. Home Office Minister, the noble Lord West of Spithead, will raise sexual exploitation of children during the Group of Eight leading industrialised nations (G8) Justice and Home Affairs ministerial meeting from 11 to 13 June.
	Our embassy in Bangkok organised and funded a training course earlier this year on requirements and best practice used in covert internet investigations into sexual exploitation of children online. Twelve police officers from Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore took part. The training was conducted by two British police officers from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). This training enhanced the trainees' ability to interact covertly online and conduct investigations for the purpose of gathering evidence admissible in a court of law. It also encouraged the building of informal and working contacts among police officers from the region.
	Our embassy in Bangkok has also recently concluded a three-year project working with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Thai Government to improve access to birth registration and citizenship among ethnic minority hill tribes in remote areas of Thailand. Lack of birth registration and citizenship has been identified by UNESCO as the primary causal factor behind the trafficking of hill tribe girls.
	We have raised the issue of child sex abuse and paedophilia at the highest level in government with the Government of Cambodia, who have introduced new legislation on trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. I discussed these issues in detail with non-governmental organisations in Phnom Penh on 7 June.
	Our embassy in Phnom Penh has worked over a number of years in close collaboration with the Government of Cambodia and the UK's CEOP. This has included organising cooperation and officers from the Cambodian National Police to build capacity and raise awareness of this global problem.
	We are working in partnership with international organisations, such as the UN Children's Fund and the World Health Organisation, to tackle the causes of child sex exploitation. Our work in Cambodia has been recognised as a model of excellence for the region with some of the mechanisms for tackling child sex abuse established in Cambodia being mirrored elsewhere, including in Vietnam and Thailand.
	Our embassy in Hanoi works closely with the Vietnamese Government to tackle child sexual exploitation in Vietnam. In February 2007 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) funded a delegation led by the Vietnamese Police Commissioner to visit child protection organisations in the UK. As a direct result of that visit, Vietnam established a specialised unit for child sex offences in their General Department of Police. In March 2007, the FCO organised a roundtable between Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security and the UK's CEOP to develop a joint action plan for capacity building measures in Vietnam. Under that plan, the FCO funded a training seminar run by CEOP in Hanoi in December 2007, an attachment by two Vietnamese officers to CEOP offices in London in February 2008 and in-situ training in Lao Cai and Ba Ria Vung Tau provinces in February and March 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State plans to respond to the letter of 26 March 2008 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on meeting the Dalai Lama.

Meg Munn: holding answer 10 June 2008
	My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, replied to the hon. Member on 1 May.

Papua: Armed Conflict

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of Indonesian military operations in the Highlands of West Papua, Jayawijaya Regency, with particular regard to the effect of these operations on the civilian population of the region; and what representations he has made to the government of Indonesia on this matter.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to my response of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 304W.

Saudi Arabia: Embassies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters the British consulate in Riyadh received in  (a) the last month and  (b) the last 12 months.

Meg Munn: During April 2008 the consular section of our embassy in Riyadh received a total of 793 letters, faxes and e-mails from members of the general public.
	An exact figure for the last 12 months is not available, but it is estimated that during the period 1 June 2007 to 31 May 2008 the consular section received a total of approximately 7,700 letters, faxes and e-mails from members of the general public.

Sudan: Armed conflict

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to  (a) the government of Sudan and  (b) the government of South Sudan on the situation in Abyei.

Meg Munn: The Permanent Secretaries of the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office pressed senior representatives of both the government of National Unity and the government of Southern Sudan to resolve the Abyei dispute, with the mediation of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission, during their visit to Sudan from 18-21 May.
	Our Permanent Representative to the UN co-led a UN Security Council visit to Sudan from 3-5 June and repeated the call for both sides to seek a swift resolution.

Sudan: Armed conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the establishment of a UNMIS-monitored demilitarised zone for the Abyei region of Sudan.

Meg Munn: We support the efforts of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), and the Assessment and Evaluation Commission, to help the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan agree security arrangements to stabilise Abyei. We understand that negotiations have focussed on replacing units of the Sudanese armed forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army with a Joint Integrated Unit. We would want UNMIS to monitor the area as agreed in UN Security Council Resolution 1812, which updated their mandate.

Uganda: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the situation in northern Uganda; whether he met the Paramount Chief of the Acholi, His Highness Rwot Onen Acana II, on his recent visit to London; what involvement he has had in the ongoing talks in Juba; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Despite the stalled talks in the Juba peace process the situation in northern Uganda remains stable. Our officials have closely monitored the peace process and have maintained regular contact with the Ugandan government, leaders in northern Uganda and former President Chissano's team. The Government have provided financial and political support to the peace process and are considering what further support to provide to continue to promote sustainable peace and development in the region.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials were unable to meet with His Highness Rwot Onen Acana II on his recent visit to London, but hope to do so in the future.

Uganda: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the whereabouts of General Otti, a former leader of the Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received no recent reports on the whereabouts of Vincent Otti. The last reports received indicate that Otti was killed by Lord's Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony in October 2007.

Zimbabwe: Sanctions

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to extend economic sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: We have no economic sanctions against Zimbabwe nor are any planned at this stage. The EU targeted measures impose a visa ban and asset freeze on President Mugabe and 130 other named Zimbabweans. There is also an EU embargo on selling arms to Zimbabwe. These measures do not hurt ordinary Zimbabweans. The county's economic meltdown is entirely the result of President Mugabe's misguided policies.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma: Overseas Aid

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will increase levels of support given to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium following rice price increases.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 9 June 2008,  Official Report, column 9W.

China: Earthquakes

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to provide aid to people affected by the recent earthquake in China.

Douglas Alexander: In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, DFID provided 1 million in cash to the China Association for NGO Co-operation, which was the designated recipient by the Chinese government for receiving cash donations. This money was used to buy food, water, blankets and 2,400 tents. A few days later, and in recognition of the huge numbers of people made homeless, we provided a further 4,755 tents, the total value of which is estimated at 1.15 million, including air freight costs. In addition, we provided specialist communication equipment, the value of which was estimated at 31,500.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Forests

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects of industrial logging on poverty alleviation measures in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not made a formal assessment of the contribution that industrial logging makes to poverty alleviation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, experience from other countries tells us that, while logging activities can contribute significant revenue, their contribution to poverty reduction tend to be marginal unless local communities are closely involved in decision making about the use of forests and the distribution of benefits from forest exploitation. This is why the UK Government have been sponsoring the Roundtable process to develop alternative models for forest management and financing in the DRC. These will be presented to Congolese and international partners during a conference in Kinshasa on 23 and 24 June. One of the proposals to be presented is the introduction of community-based forestry management in the DRC which puts local communities at the centre of the decision making process for forest use.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Forests

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on extension of the moratorium on issuing new logging titles in the Democratic Republic of Congo until proper land-use planning is in place.

Gillian Merron: In 2007 the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government, donor partners and a large part of DRC and international civil society adopted the Priority Agenda for the DRC's forests. The UK Government agree with all the parties to the Priority Agenda that forest land-use planning involving local people is essential for avoiding future conflicts in forest areas. We also agree that the moratorium should not be lifted until a national plan for granting new concessions has been developed involving the DRC government, NGOs, private companies and local people. The recent establishment of a national committee to agree a standard methodology for forest land-use zoning is an encouraging sign that the rights of forest-dependent people are being taken seriously. This methodology should be agreed by all relevant parties and applied successfully before new logging titles can be issued.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Forests

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on a moratorium on all logging in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government do not believe that a moratorium on all logging in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is either desirable or enforceable. The DRC is a desperately poor country emerging from civil war and it needs to be able to exploit its natural resources in a .sustainable way to drive reconstruction and the provision of basic services. Sustainable logging practices from countries like Mexico and Guatemala show that governments and communities can derive substantial benefits from logging activities. A blanket moratorium would also prevent the emergence of small-scale logging businesses which are an essential element of community-based forest management.

Developing Countries: Food

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Oral Answer of 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 286, what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of market speculation to the effects on developing countries of the increase in world food prices.

Gillian Merron: The Government have been examining the contribution of market speculation to recent rises in commodity prices, including food. The available evidence suggests that speculation in financial markets is not driving prices. The Chancellor will place further details before the House today.

Egypt: Food

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the humanitarian implications of the food price rise in Egypt; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have a bilateral programme in Egypt. However, the British embassy in Cairo is monitoring the economic situation in the country. Recent assessment shows that escalating inflation and food price rises have raised tensions and increased the threat of social instability. However, in response the Egyptian Government has been implementing policies aimed at reducing the impact of food price rises on the poor, for example by committing to extend the number of people eligible for subsidised bread ration cards by 17 million. DFID is also in regular contact with the World Food Programme (WFP) who launched a global appeal earlier in 2008 for countries most at risk from rising food prices. There was no specific appeal for Egypt, where the WFP operates capacity building programmes and school feeding programmes but has not initiated any emergency operations.

Egypt: Overseas Aid

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department has made to increasing food aid to Egypt since March 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have a bilateral programme in Egypt. DFID, however, continues to support poverty reduction efforts in Egypt through contributions to international institutions such as the European Commission (EC). The UK is contributing about 95 million towards the EC's 558 million 2007 to 2010 programme of assistance to Egypt. DFID has also been in regular contact with the World Food Programme (WFP) and has responded to their recent global appeal for countries most at risk from rising food prices with a 30 million contribution. There was no specific appeal for Egypt, where the WFP operates capacity building programmes and school feeding programmes but has no emergency operations.

Human Rights: Females

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of international progress towards the UN commitment to eliminating violence against women as adopted in 1995; and what contribution the UK has made to that work.

Gillian Merron: Reports from the UNin particular the Secretary-General's In-Depth Study on Violence against Women (2006) and subsequent reports to the General Assemblyas well as our own work in developing countries show that more progress needs to be made internationally towards the commitments on violence against women agreed at the 4th World Conference on Women in 1995.
	The UK has supported a number of initiatives in the UN that seek to address violence against women (and girls), including resolutions and the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women. We also welcomed the launch in February by the UN Secretary-General of a new campaign to intensify action to end violence against women and girls.
	The Department for International Development also tackles violence against women and girls through our development assistance programmes as part of our wider work to promote gender equality and women's rights, as set out in the Gender Equality Action Plan launched last year. We support work on this issue in over 20 developing countries, including in the areas of legislative reform, improved provision of services for victims, work with media on awareness raising and changing attitudes, and training of police and military. This includes initiatives in conflict and post-conflict situations implemented by civil society and UN partners. For example, we are currently supporting a programme implemented by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) aimed at promoting women's engagement in peace-building and preventing sexual violence in conflict which is working in Afghanistan, Haiti, Liberia, Rwanda, Timor Leste and Uganda.
	The Gender Equality Action Plan can be found at
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/gender-equality-plan-2007.pdf, and
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/gender-equality.pdf.

Indonesia: Overseas Aid

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the terms of reference are of the programme established in Indonesia by his Department under the fund to be managed by the Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation; when the fund will begin operating; for how long the programme will run; whether the fund will sponsor Government and private sector projects; and what projects he expects to be funded.

Shahid Malik: The Terms of Reference for the Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme are to reduce and eliminate illegal logging, to achieve poverty reduction through community-based forest management and to support reforms for reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation. The agreement was signed in February this year and runs until October 2010.
	The Fund will finance government and civil society. Projects include implementing a European UnionIndonesia voluntary partnership agreement on forest law enforcement, governance and trade, legal reforms to reduce corruption, community-based forest management and strengthening local community foundations in six regions.

Iraq: Asylum

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made with the programme for funding displaced Iraqis within that country and in Syria; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: Since 2003, DFID has committed over 149 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraq, 17 million of which has been allocated for this year. We have channelled our assistance to a variety of international organisations working to provide assistance to the most vulnerable people displaced inside Iraq and in the region. Support provided through these organisations includes food, water, shelter and medicine.
	We are also working to promote a coordinated international effort in response to humanitarian situation, with the Government of Iraq (GoI) in the lead. The GoI has recognised it holds primary responsibility for the welfare of its people and is working to address the humanitarian situation inside the country. To that end, the GoI last week allocated $40 million to the World Food Programme, to assist in the provision of food for internally displaced people. The UK is also encouraging the GoI to take a lead in providing financial support to Iraqi refugees in the wider region, and we are seeing some progress being made. The GoI has allocated $25 million to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan to support Iraqis who are currently living there, and very recently announced $195 million to support voluntary returnees from the region back to Iraq.
	However, while international aid is vital in supporting the most vulnerable Iraqisboth within Iraq and in the wider regionthe longer term solution to the humanitarian problem hinges on sustainable improvements in the security situation. Currently refugees who have been interviewed in the region have said they do not wish to return to Iraq because they believe it is unsafe to do so. The UNHCR, who lead on refugee issues, has also made it clear that the situation in Iraq does not currently warrant mass refugee return. Therefore, security must be the Iraqi Government's top priority, to allow displaced people to feel safe enough to return home.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which 10 recipients received the greatest amount of UK aid for Palestinian refugees in 2007-08; how much each received; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: In 2007-08 the Department for International Development (DFID) provided 63.6 million in financial assistance to the Palestinian people. 35.45 million of that amount supported services such as health, education and power generation provided by the Palestinian Authority in the west bank and Gaza, and also benefited refugees. The only part of that assistance dedicated specifically to Palestinian refugees was 15.6 million through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This helped UNRWA provide health, education and other services to 4.5 million Palestinian refugees in the region, including over a million refugees in Gaza and over 700,000 in the west bank.

Somalia: Food

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid is being provided to Somalia to develop efficient and up-to-date methods of food production; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government provide central funding to the EC in Somalia who are the lead donor in the field of rural development and food security with 50.9 million currently invested in programmes. The aim is to:
	increase crop production, income and assets (particularly livestock) for communities in rural areas;
	improve market access and marketing; and
	improve access to appropriate information for emergency response and development planning.
	DFID also provides core funding to multilateral organisations such as the World Bank and United Nations organisations, some of which contributes to food production activities. For example, DFID has provided over 90 million in support to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation and International Fund for Agricultural Development over the period 2002-03 to 2006-07.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to stipulate that future pledges of aid to Sudan are contingent on  (a) the removal of Ahmad Harun from his position as Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and  (b) the surrender of Ahmad Harun to the International Criminal Court.

Douglas Alexander: The UK does not channel any of its humanitarian or development assistance through the Government of Sudan. To make our aid conditional on the conduct of the regime would be to punish the people in Darfur and Southern Sudan who rely on international support for basic humanitarian assistance.

West Bank: Overseas Aid

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK aid he estimates reached internally displaced people in the West Bank in each year since 1997; and what factors have slowed the distribution of aid.

Douglas Alexander: There is no internationally agreed upon definition of what constitutes internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the context of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). United Nations agencies do not systematically collect data on the multiple triggers of internal displacement (e.g. house demolition) in the OPTs nor on the size of the various IDP populations therein.
	UK support to the OPTs benefits Palestinians, including IDPs, in both the West Bank, Gaza andfor refugeesalso the wider region. The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the Palestinian Authority (PA) to provide services such as health and education and for on-going technical assistance to the PA in taking forward reforms. DFID also provides assistance dedicated specifically to Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This helps UNRWA provide health, education and other services to 4.5 million Palestinian refugees in the region, including over a million refugees in Gaza and over 700,000 in the West Bank. Since 1996-97, the UK has provided nearly 295 million in assistance to the Palestinian people.
	
		
			  000 
			   Financial aid  Technical cooperation  Humanitarian assistance  Grants and other aid in kind  Total ( 1) Total UNRWA 
			 1996-97 1,181 2,236 50 2,681 6,148 8,140 
			 1997-98 963 2,741 59 2,329 6,091 10,042 
			 1998-99 5 2,914 94 2,167 5,180 3,336 
			 1999-2000 628 3,903 0 3,459 7,990 12,737 
			 2000-01 791 4,065 569 3,570 8,996 17,768 
			 2001-02 218 4,186 4,567 5,557 14,528 24,209 
			 2002-03 0 4,650 4,534 5,982 15,165 18,708 
			 2003-04 0 5,380 0 11,461 16,841 23,646 
			 2004-05 7,575 5,293 1,800 2,897 17,565 17,229 
			 2005-06 10,335 3,689 0 1,034 15,058 14,985 
			 2006-07 11,914 2,895 223 163 15,196 15,015 
			 2007-08(2) 48,000 15,600 
			 Total 33,610 41,950 11,897 41,300 128,757 165,816 
			 (1) Covers support to Palestinian refugees in the OPTs, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.  (2) Provisional figures. 
		
	
	The UK aligns its support to the PA to the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan and does not subdivide its support between Gaza and the West Bank. UNRWA generally allocates around 30 per cent. of its budget to Gaza, 16 per cent. to the West Bank and the remaining to help other Palestinian refugees in the region.
	Movement and access restrictions undermine the effectiveness of humanitarian operations and impose additional costs on humanitarian agencies. The UK continues to call on Israel to ease those restrictions in order to alleviate the humanitarian situation and allow the Palestinian economy to grow. Despite the obstacles, assistance is reaching those who need it. Our funding to UNRWA supports the delivery of medical and social services, education and some food aid to social hardship cases.

Zimbabwe: Sanctions

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the effect of economic sanctions on food and medicine distribution in Zimbabwe in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: There were no UK or EU economic sanctions targeting Zimbabwe in 2007-08, nor are there any at present. There are EU targeted measures that impose a visa ban and asset freeze on President Mugabe and 130 named individuals. There is an EU embargo on selling arms to Zimbabwe. There are no other UK or EU sanctions on Zimbabwe. The UK Government do not wish to punish the people of Zimbabwe for the wrongdoings of the regime. In 2007-08, we provided 45 million of humanitarian assistance, including for essential medicines and food.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Delivery Authority: Procurement

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics for what reasons the Olympic Delivery Authority did not use the constructionline procurement system for letting its contracts; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 9 June 2008
	Constructionline is an accreditation system that requires a supplier to pay a subscription. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) cannot under EU public procurement directives force contractors to sign up to a paid service to compete for public works. The ODA also felt that this would be a potential barrier to small and medium sized businesses wishing to bid for 2012 contracts.

Olympic Delivery Authority: Procurement

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether she has received representations from contractors about the Olympic Delivery Authority's accreditation system; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 9 June 2008
	I have received no direct representation from contractors on the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) accreditation system. However, there has been much ODA engagement with the business community, both large and small, on the free to use CompeteFor system. 18,000 suppliers are registered currently giving eligibility to apply for any opportunity on the system and ODA estimate approximately 10,000 opportunities from the ODA supply chain alone being advertised on CompeteFor.

Olympic Games 2012: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many Bexley-based businesses have  (a) tendered for and  (b) obtained contracts for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: To date, four businesses or organisations registered in Bexley have supplied the Olympic Delivery Authority. No businesses registered in Bexley have tendered for contracts above the Official Journal of the European Union threshold (according to EU legislation, all contracts from the public sector which are valued above a certain threshold must be published in the Official Journal of the European Union).
	To date 44 businesses registered in Bexley signed-up to the CompeteFor electronic brokerage system for opportunities in the London 2012 supply chains.

Olympic Games 2012: Facilities

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she is taking to ensure that the London 2012 Olympics has the improvement of skills levels in sports facilities maintenance as part of its legacy; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	To help meet the challenge of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, Asset Skills (the Sector Skills Council for Facilities Management) has recently produced occupational and function maps for the job role of facilities management. These maps are the blueprints for the development of new occupational standards and qualifications. In addition to this Asset Skills has also recently developed a suite of national occupational standards and qualifications that will help ensure that employers have access to the facilities management skills that they need to do the job both for the Games themselves and beyond into the legacy phase.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what proportion of its staff his Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: During the last three years 46 DCMS members of staff have taken part in vocational training defined as training directly accredited or recognised equivalency to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) levels 2-4. As a proportion this represents 10.4 per cent. of staff working in DCMS.

English Sports Council: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much grant-in-aid funding Sport England received in each year since 1997-98; and how much Sport England awarded in grants in each year since 1997-98.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Figures provided by Sport England, for grant in aid funding received and grants awarded in each year since 1997-98, are as follows.
	
		
			   000 
			   Grant in aid (GIA) received  Total grants awarded  Amount of grants awarded from GIA 
			 1997-98 32,925 208,322 19,085 
			 1998-99 31,551 337,743 17,005 
			 1999-00 36,400 166,560 20,952 
			 2000-01 37,442 350,711 24,190 
			 2001-02 43,162 500,632 30,019 
			 2002-03 45,354 302,021 62,393 
			 2003-04 63,775 180,548 20,132 
			 2004-05 66,275 237,487 49,124 
			 2005-06 78,963 215,141 57,676 
			 2006-07 102,500 216,910 90,710 
			 2007-08 113,296 198,488 88,481

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not hold the management information on how much food waste is generated.

National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has received from the National Lottery Distribution Fund in each year since 1994.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department recovers a share of the net costs of running the National Lottery Commission (NLC) from the national lottery distribution fund (NLDF). Details of these amounts can be found in note 5 of the NLDF accounts, which can be found at the following website addresses or in the House Libraries.
	NLDF Annual Accounts 2005-06:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/HC266 NationalLotteryDistributionFundAccount_200506.pdf
	NLDF Annual Accounts 2006-07:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/386557_ HC158_withwording.pdf
	My Department also recovers from the NLDF the operational costs incurred by it in carrying out NLDF matters. Details of these amounts can be found in note 4 of the NLDF accounts. Accounts for 2007-08 are expected to be laid before the House in October 2008.

National Lottery: Manpower

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department were engaged on National Lottery Distribution Fund matters in each of the last five years; and what proportion of their working time was spent on such matters in each of those years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 11 June 2008
	The number of staff engaged on national lottery distribution fund matters and the proportion of time spent in each of the last five years is set out in the following table.
	In addition, other staff are engaged on lottery policy matters and on the sponsorship of lottery distributing bodies. This activity is not related to the management of the national lottery distribution fund.
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of staff  Percentage of time on NLDF 
			 2003-04 9 42 
			 2004-05 8 46 
			 2005-06 8 47 
			 2006-07 8 45 
			 2007-08 8 38

Olympic Games 2012: National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments were made to the National Lottery Commission from the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund in each year since 1994.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Details of the payments made to the National Lottery Commission (NLC) from the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund (OLDF) can be found in Note 5 of the OLDF annual accounts for the years 2005-06 and 2006-07, which can be found at the following website addresses or in the House libraries.
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/HC267 OlympicLotteryDistributionFundAccount_200506.pdf
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/OL_ DistribtionAccounts20067.pdf
	A similar note will appear in the 2007-08 accounts, which are expected to be laid before Parliament in October.

Redstone

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contracts his Department holds with Redstone; what services are supplied; and what the total value is of these contracts.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not currently hold any contracts with Redstone.

Sport England: Public Appointments

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by  (a) Sport England and  (b) his Department on advertising for the position of Chairman of Sport England.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The position of Chairman of Sport England was advertised in  The Sunday Times on 16 and 23 December 2007. Following an organisational review of the body, the position was re-advertised in  The Sunday Times on 8 June 2008 and in  The Times online on 9 June 2008. The total net advertising cost is 17,148.25 which will be met in full by the Department.

Sports: Further Education

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many co-ordinators of sport in further education were appointed in each of the last three years; and how many are planned to be appointed in the next three years.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	As part of the PE and Sport Strategy for Young People, 20 pilot FE sport co-ordinators have been in post since April 2008. Appointment of co-ordinators for all of the 377 FE colleges will begin in September 2008. We aim to have them all in place by January 2009. No sport co-ordinators in further education existed before 2008.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the cost of increasing the free entitlement for childcare from 12.5 hours per week to 15 hours per week by 2010.

Beverley Hughes: The extension to the free entitlement from 12frac12; hours per week to 15 hours per week, delivered more flexibly than at present, is being funded through a new investment of 590 million over 2008 to 2011 (80 million in 2008/09, 170 million in 2009/10 and 340 million in 2010/11. Funding beyond 2011 will, of course, be a matter for future spending reviews.

Children's Centres

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with how many partners, on average, children's centres work in order to deliver the range of services outlined in Every Child Matters.

Beverley Hughes: Sure Start Children's Centres work with a range of local partners including health, Job Centre Plus, schools and private, voluntary and independent organisations. Information on how many partners on average children's centres work with is not collected centrally.

Community Relations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on what his Department will spend its share of the pledged 12.5 million to help prevent extremism in communities; over what period of time his Department's share will be spent; which stakeholders will be consulted when deciding which community projects will be given funding from the budget; what the process will be to decide which organisations and projects will be given funding; how the effects of the funding will be assessed; and who will monitor those effects.

Kevin Brennan: The 12.5 million announced on 3 June will be divided between the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, to be spent on funding projects specifically to support institutions or individuals vulnerable to radicalisation. My Department will be working closely with Home Office and Ministry of Justice on work to support young individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system and to feed into cross-Government work on identifying and supporting vulnerable individuals at risk of being targeted by violent extremists.

Further Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government has taken to encourage 16 to 19 year-olds to stay on in education.

Jim Knight: 77.3 per cent. of young people were in education and training at the end of 2006, equating to 1,547,000 16 to 18-year-oldsthe highest number ever. The Government have taken a number of steps to increase this still further and put us on the pathway to raising the participation age in 2013:
	the September Guarantee, an offer of a suitable place in learning for every year 11 school leaver, was delivered nationally for the first time last yearand this year we will be extending that offer to 17-year-olds;
	a range of financial support is available to young people to help them continue in education or training, this includes Education Maintenance Allowance, Learner Support Funds, Residential bursaries, Care to Learn and Dance and Drama Awards;
	Activity Agreement Pilots in eight areas are testing different packages of financial support for young people completing agreed activities to help identify the most effective model for engaging 16 to 17-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) and Learning Agreement Pilots in eight areas are testing how young people in jobs without training can be motivated to participate in learning;
	the NEET strategy (November 2007) introduced a number of measures to increase participation including a duty on providers to notify Connexions when a young person drops out of learning, and encouraging providers to offer more flexible and responsive provision throughout the academic year; and
	the post-16 progression measure will help all schools focus on ensuring their pupils make a good transition to post 16 learningthe data will be published in the School Profile in summer 2009.
	The 14-19 reforms will go still further. We are introducing a new more engaging curriculum through Diplomas from this September and, in 2013, all young people will have an entitlement to study one of the 14 Diplomas that will be available. For young people who want a more work based route, we are expanding the apprenticeship programme so that every young person who wants one can have one, and the foundation learning tier will give young people not yet ready for level 2 and level 3 qualifications the essential building blocks for future learning.

Grandparents

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research he has undertaken or evaluated on the number of grandparents who were denied access to their grandchildren by the children's parents during the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: We have not undertaken or evaluated any research on this subject in the last 12 months.

Holiday Play Schemes

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average number of hours children spent attending a holiday play scheme per day in each year for which records are available;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of children in  (a) Basingstoke,  (b) Hampshire and  (c) England had access to holiday play schemes in each year for which records are available.

Beverley Hughes: The 2006 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collected information on child care provision in England. The estimated number of children attending holiday clubs in England was 352,500 in 2006 compared to 233,800 in 2003. Data are not available at local authority level.
	An accurate estimate of the proportion of children attending holiday play schemes cannot be provided as children may access holiday provision in other types of child care settings. Data are not available on the number of children attending other child care providers in school holidays.
	Data on the average number of hours per day that children attend holiday play schemes are not collected centrally.

Kids Company: Finance

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the purposes are of the 12.7 million grant made by the Government to Kids Company in March; what conditions apply with regard to replicating the work of Kids Company; how much of the grant was intended for such replications; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Kids Co. has received funding and support from the Youth Sector Development Fund to expand their services to support more of South London's most vulnerable young people.
	The funding will also enable them to develop a Centre of Excellence, to offer training in the successful methods and techniques used at Kids Co. to the wider children and young people's work force.
	As for all organisations in receipt of the YSDF funding, Kids Co.'s use of the funding will be bound by the terms and conditions set out in their grant agreement. Each month, Kids Co. will be monitored against key performance indicators demonstrating progress toward the objectives of the YSDF.

National Academy of Parenting Practitioners

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has for the future of the National Academy of Parenting Practitioners; what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of implementing such plans; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The National Academy for Parenting Practitioners is in the process of finalising a strategic plan for 2008 onwardsto be agreed with my Departmentwhich sets out its work plan and deliverables until 2010: to deliver a combination of research and training to support and develop the parenting workforce. We expect the academy to bring about a step change in the supply and quality of parenting support delivered to parents across England.
	The Department has set aside up to 30 million for the academy covering the three-year period, 2007-2010.

Playing Fields: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many school playing fields were sold in Hampshire in each of the last 15 years, broken down by school.

Kevin Brennan: We only have records on the number of school playing fields sold since 1998. Since then we have approved three applications from Hampshire local authority to sell school playing fields, as set out in the following list. Each approval was supported by advice from our independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel.
	Crestwood Community School, Eastleigh in September 2002surplus land was sold to fund the school's new sports hall and all-weather sports pitch;
	the former Beech Down Primary School, Basingstoke in July 2005the school had closed and the proceeds were used to provide new educational facilities at six local schools;
	and Warblington School, Havant in November 2007surplus land was sold to fund the school's new sports hall and all-weather sports pitch.

Playing Fields: Southampton

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many school playing fields at each school in Southampton were sold in each of the last 15 years.

Kevin Brennan: We only have records on the number of school playing fields sold since 1998. Since then we have approved one application from Southampton local authority to sell a school playing field. This was in respect of Harefield Primary School, Southampton in December 2007the school had closed and the proceeds were used to provide a new sports hall at the adjacent junior school site. The approval was supported by advice from our independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel.

Pre-School Education: Expenditure

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on the production and distribution of its revised early years foundation stage guidance;
	(2)  for what reason his Department has revised its guidance on the early years foundation stage.

Beverley Hughes: It was necessary to do another print-run of the Early Years Foundation Stage because stocks were running low and demand for copies remained high. We took the opportunity to provide clarification of areas where feedback from local authorities, schools and early years providers indicated this would be helpful. None of the legal requirements have changed. The total cost for the reprint was 556,401 for 300,000 copies.

Pre-School Education: Per Capita Costs

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding per pupil his Department provided to each local authority in London for the early years entitlement in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Payment for the free early education entitlement is made as part of the Dedicated Schools Grant which provides funding for pupils between the ages of 3 and 16. We do not separately identify the amount of funding made available for early years. Local authorities are best placed to determine the most effective use of resources at local level and have discretion over the rate at which they fund settings for delivery of early years provision.

Schools: Carbon Emissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many new schools applied for grants under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in each year since 2006; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that schools are aware of the programme.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of schools that have applied for grants under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme are detailed as follows:
	
		
			  Low Carbon Buildings Programmephase 1 
			  Applications received  New  Existing under refurbishment  Existing no refurbishment  Total 
			  2006-07 
			 Number 20 2 35 57 
			 Percentage 36 4 61  
			  
			  2007-08 
			 Number 12 2 15 29 
			 Percentage 41 7 5  
			  
			  Total 
			 Number 32 4 50 86 
			 Percentage 37 5 58  
		
	
	
		
			  Low Carbon Buildings Programmephase 2 
			   2007  2008  Total 
			 New build 9 6 15 
			 
			 Existing building 105 67 172 
			 Mixed 21 3 24 
			 Total 135 76 211 
		
	
	We are promoting the Low Carbon Buildings Programme through the Sustainable Schools website and have made local authorities aware of the programme through our regular communications channels, and promoted the scheme at major conferences and events. Further details can be obtained from:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools/search/search_results.cfm
	The Government require all new school buildings to reduce carbon emissions from new school buildings by 60 per cent. through a combination of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy systems, and provides additional funding to all new secondary schools within BSF (Building Schools for the Future), academies and One School Pathfinder programmes for this purpose. There are also requirements within building regulations and local planning requirements that encourage microgeneration for new buildings.

Schools: Sports

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in each London borough took part in after-school sports in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: Data are not collected centrally in the format requested.
	The annual School Sport Survey has been running for the past four years, but the survey has only collected data by local authority since 2004/05. The following table sets out the percentage of pupils in each local authority taking part in at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport in a typical week for the last three years. Direct comparisons between local authorities are not appropriate as the number of schools in school sport partnerships, and the length of time they have been within partnerships, differs. Since September 2006, all maintained schools in England have been within a school sport partnership.
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils taking part in at least two hours high quality PE and sport a week by London borough 
			  London borough  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			 Barking and Dagenham 55 58 80 
			 Barnet 80 84 82 
			 Bexley 70 75 86 
			 Brent 64 81 83 
			 Bromley 76 82 88 
			 Camden 69 72 82 
			 Croydon 61 70 82 
			 Ealing 66 88 89 
			 Enfield 72 77 87 
			 Greenwich 71 73 78 
			 Hackney 49 67 84 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 51 62 88 
			 Haringey 54 80 89 
			 Harrow 72 72 84 
			 Havering 71 74 81 
			 Hillingdon 61 75 82 
			 Hounslow 76 78 82 
			 Islington 58 75 88 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 50 74 88 
			 Kingston upon Thames 76 69 82 
			 Lambeth 83 89 82 
			 Lewisham 66 71 89 
			 Merton 60 84 87 
			 Newham 79 86 91 
			 Redbridge 76 76 80 
			 Richmond upon Thames 80 86 91 
			 Southwark 67 72 87 
			 Sutton 59 75 88 
			 Tower Hamlets 60 62 81 
			 Waltham Forest 69 63 87 
			 Wandsworth 72 88 89 
			 Westminster 55 72 87

Schools: Transport

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils below the age of eight years use school-provided transport, broken down by county.

Jim Knight: The available information held centrally relates to mode of travel to school, and does not separately identify school-provided transport.
	The Department does not hold complete data relating to mode of travel to school. Provision of this information is only compulsory for those schools with an approved travel plan. The scope of collection includes: maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, city technology colleges, academies and special schools.
	In the spring 2007 School Census, mode of travel data were supplied for almost 70 per cent. of pupils. The available national level information relating to pupils aged less than eight is provided in the table. An analysis at county level could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	Updated information relating to spring 2008 is expected to be available by the end of June 2008.
	
		
			  Nursery, primary, secondary and special schools( 1) : number of pupils aged less than eight by mode of travel( 2, 3) , As at January 2007, England 
			   Pupils aged less than 8( 2) 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Walk 1,012,590 40.6 
			 Cycle 16,160 0.6 
			 Car/van 654,230 26.2 
			 Car share 50,880 2.0 
			 Public service bus 22,370 0.9 
			 Dedicated school bus 26,310 1.1 
			 Bus (type not known) 8,040 0.3 
			 Taxi 12,060 0.5 
			 Train 640 0.0 
			 London underground 300 0.0 
			 Metro/tram/light rail 320 0.0 
			 Boarding pupilnot applicable 30 0.0 
			 Other 7,840 0.3 
			 Mode of travelnot collected 683,640 27.4 
			 Total 2,495,390 100.0 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. Includes city technology colleges, academies, maintained and non-maintained special schools. (2 )Includes pupils aged less than eight as at 31 August 2006. Includes pupils with sole and dual (main) registration. (3 )Where a pupil uses more than one mode of travel for each journey to school, the longest element of the journey by distance should be recorded.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  School Census.

Special Educational Needs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government's inclusion agenda on special educational needs schools.

Kevin Brennan: The Government Response to the Education and Skills Select Committee report on Special Educational Needs (October 2006) said that inclusion is about the quality of a child's experience and providing access to a high quality education which enables them to make progress in their learning and participate fully in the activities of their school and community. We see a vital and continuing role for special schools as part of an inclusive education system, meeting children's needs directly and working in much closer partnership with mainstream schools to build expertise throughout the system. We signalled our commitment to this by bringing special schools within the Department's specialist schools programme.
	Some 26 special schools had already been designated as SEN specialist schools by October 2006, with funding and a specific brief to provide outreach to mainstream schools. As of 1 June 2008, there were 87 special schools designated as SEN specialist schools.
	Our guidance entitled Planning and Developing Special Educational Provision: A Guide for Local Authorities and other proposers (published in March 2007) encourages local authorities to plan and commission a flexible range of provision to meet children's needs. This guidance reaffirms special schools' important role in meeting children's needs directly and in providing outreach to other schools. The guidance also reminds maintained mainstream schools that they must make provision for children on their roll who have SEN and make reasonable adjustments for disabled children.
	Ofsted's survey Inclusiondoes it matter where pupils are taught? (2006) said that children with SEN can do well in all types of schoolaccess to high quality, specialist teachers and a commitment by leaders to create opportunities to include all pupils are keys to success. We are asking Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools to review progress on SEN in 2009.

Specialised Diplomas

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government has taken to prepare teachers for the introduction of new diplomas.

Jim Knight: We provided 45 million of funding in 2007-08 and have been working with a number of partner organisations to ensure there has been a wide range of support available for those who are involved in delivering the Diploma from this September. This has included a package of blended support, comprising face to face training supplemented by a combination of materials, on-line resources and access to local teacher development networks.

Sure Start Programme: Finance

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on childcare grants awarded to Sure Start and children's centres in each year since 2001; how much he expects to spend on such grants in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Department does not award child care grant to Sure Start Children's Centres. The Department grants local authorities a revenue allocation for the operation of Sure Start Children's Centres.
	Expenditure by local authorities on Sure Start Children's Centres each year since 2001 is provided in the following table. We have allocated 885 million, 1,023 million, and 1,135 million respectively in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 which includes funding for Sure Start Children's Centres. No plans have been made for subsequent years.
	
		
			   Funding for children's centres ( million) 
			 2001-02 104.8 
			 2002-03 174.3 
			 2003-04 308.0 
			 2004-05 371.2 
			 2005-06 477.6 
			 2006-07 603.8 
		
	
	Expenditure data from local authorities for 2007-08 are not yet available.

TREASURY

Combined Heat and Power: Finance

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to provide incentives for capital investment in combined heat and power technology when the existing exemption expires in 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: State aid approval for the exemption of supplies of CHP-generated electricity made by licensed utilities expires on 31 March 2013, and the Government will make an announcement on the decision to seek an extension in due course. The Chancellor keeps all taxes and associated exemptions under review.
	In addition to climate change levy exemptions, the Government provide support for combined heat and power (CHP) via a number of mechanisms. For example:
	The 2007 pre-Budget report stated that the Government will aim to ensure that arrangement for future phases of the EU ETS continue to recognise the carbon savings that CHP delivers;
	Investment in good quality CHP is eligible for enhanced capital allowances (ECAs), which enable businesses to claim 100 per cent. first-year capital allowances on their spending on qualifying plant and machinery;
	From 2010 smaller CHP plants will also receive carbon price signals from the new carbon reduction commitment;
	CHP is exempt from business rates, and diesel used in CHP and certain other power stations is exempt from the hydrocarbon oils duty.
	The Government will continue to assess the level of support provided to CHP in light of ongoing reviews by BERR, DEFRA and Ofgem.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect his proposed vehicle excise duty charges for band G vehicles will have on the use of such vehicles for agricultural purposes in upland rural areas.

Kitty Ussher: Vehicles used solely for agricultural purposes are exempt from vehicle excise duty.

Income Tax: Tax Allowances

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of PAYE coding notices that will need to be reissued as a result of his decision to increase income tax personal allowances in 2008;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of  (a) the time required to process new PAYE coding notices required as a result of his decision to increase income tax personal allowances for basic rate taxpayers,  (b) the resulting staff costs and  (c) the resulting stationery and postage costs;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the likely IT costs to HM Revenue and Customs of implementing his decision to increase income tax personal allowances in 2008.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 19 May 2008
	 The changes announced by the Chancellor on 13 May are being implemented using the established mechanisms for Budget changes which are designed to minimise costs as far as possible for HMRC and for employers. HMRC is working through the detailed plans for implementation, in consultation with employers, and the costs of implementation will be established as a result of that work.

Minimum Wage: Prosecutions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 143-4W, on minimum wage: prosecutions, what the average length of time taken by employers to pay minimum wage arrears was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The requested information is not available.

Tax Credit Office: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for a reply to be sent to the letter of 8 April sent to the Tax Credit Office in Preston by the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding a constituent.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 5 June 2008
	 Tax Credit Office wrote to my hon. Friend on 2 May 2008 in response to his letter and one from his constituents, both of which were received in April 2008.

Taxation: Pensioners

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners in receipt of the state pension are UK income tax payers; and what percentage of the overall national income tax revenue was attributable to pensioners in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: There are an estimated 5.0 million taxpayers of state pension age or above for 2008-09. It is not possible to calculate exactly how many individuals in receipt of the basic state pension are taxpayers. Their income tax liability accounts for around 8.8 per cent. of estimated total income tax liability for 2008-09.

Unemployment Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the minimum income is for each family in table 4.1 of Budget 2008 who are claiming workless benefits.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 17 March 2008
	 The minimum out of work income for the families in table 4.1 of Budget 2008 can be derived from DWP press notice of 5 December 2007 and HM Treasury press notice of 18 October 2007 (PN109), and are set out in the following table. Figures are rounded to the nearest pound and, consistent with table 4.1, do not include housing or council tax benefit:
	
		
			   October 2008 () 
			 Couple family with one child 170 
			 Lone parent with one child 135 
			 Single person, no children, 25 61 
			 Couple, no children, 25 or over 95 
		
	
	Calculating the minimum out of work incomes for the equivalent disabled persons as those in table 4.1 is not feasible due to there being many different rates.

Tax Credits: Hemel Hempstead

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims there were for tax credits from taxpayers in Hemel Hempstead constituency in each month since the scheme's inception; and how many were  (a) overpaid and  (b) underpaid.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the number of families with tax credit awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, for the years 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 are available in the HMRC publications Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards. Supplement on Payments. Geographical Analyses, for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	This information is not available on a monthly basis.

Working Tax Credit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which 35 areas have been selected for the working tax credit take-up campaign.

Jane Kennedy: The areas targeted for the November 2007 working tax credit campaign were:
	Carmarthenshire
	Ceredigion
	Clackmannanshire
	Cleveland
	Cornwall
	Cumbria
	Derbyshire
	Devon
	Dumfries and Galloway
	Dundee City
	Durham
	Eilean Siar
	Greater Glasgow
	Gwynedd
	East Sussex
	East Yorkshire
	Greater London
	Greater Manchester
	Isle of Wight
	Lancashire
	Leicestershire
	Lincolnshire
	Merseyside
	Norfolk
	Northern Ireland
	Northumberland
	North Yorkshire
	Nottinghamshire
	Pembrokeshire
	South Wales (Glamorgan and Gwent)
	South Yorkshire
	Staffordshire
	Suffolk
	Tyne and Wear
	West Midlands.

Working Tax Credit

Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the number of people who are eligible for working tax credit but have not applied for it.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the number of households entitled to but not claiming working tax credits in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are published in Table 1 of the HMRC publications 'Child and Working Tax Credit Take-up rates', for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-take-up.htm.

Fuels

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been  (a) charged with and  (b) convicted of the distribution or sale of illegal fuel in the last 12 months.

Kitty Ussher: In the last 12 months, eight people have been convicted of hydrocarbon oils fraud in Northern Ireland. In that period, six have been arrested in relation to suspected hydrocarbon oils fraud in cases which are being dealt with by information and summons.
	In the same period, in mainland Great Britain, one case involving four defendants has reached the prosecution stage.
	The number of people convicted in relation to hydrocarbon oils fraud in mainland Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the period 2007-08 will be published in the HMRC autumn performance report 2008, later this year.
	Criminal investigation and prosecution for hydrocarbon oils offences form only one part of HMRC's overall approach to tackling oils fraud, together with the investigation/prosecution of wider oils excise offences, combined with a strong regulatory control system and the civil penalties regime.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Children

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how levels of child binge drinking are measured; and how these levels have changed over the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no agreed definition of binge drinking for young people. The smoking, drinking and drug use survey of secondary school children in England provides national estimates of the proportions of young people aged 11 to 15 who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. We have used those data between 2001 and 2006 to summarise the units of alcohol consumed by young people in the previous seven days.
	
		
			  Units of alcohol consumed in last seven days by pupils in the SDD survey, 2001-06 
			   Percentage 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Number not drinking alcohol in last week 77.2 79.3 78.5 80.4 81.0 82.6 
			 More than 0 but less than four units of alcohol drunk in last week 8.0 6.1 7.0 6.0 5.9 5.4 
			 Four to less than eight units of alcohol drunk in last week 5.2 4.9 5.4 4.4 4.8 3.9 
			 Eight to less than 12 units of alcohol drunk in last week 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1 2.7 2.3 
			 12 to less than 20 units of alcohol drunk in last week 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.1 2.9 3.0 
			 20 or more units of alcohol drunk in last seven days 3.0 2.9 2.5 3.0 2.7 2.8 
		
	
	Data taken from the smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2001-06 surveys published by the NHS information Centre and Department of Health.
	The table shows the percentage of young people not drinking any alcohol in the last seven days has increased over the last five years, from 77.2 per cent. in 2001 to 82.6 per cent. in 2006. Also the percentage of pupils drinking less than eight units has similarly decreased from 13.2 per cent. in 2001 to 9.3 per cent. in 2006. However the percentage of pupils drinking eight or more units in the last seven days has remained fairly stable between 2001 and 2006.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) under 16, (ii) 16 to 19, (iii) 20 to 25, (iv) 26 to 30, (v) 31 to 40, (vi) 41 to 50, (vii) 51 to 60 and (viii) 61 and over have been cautioned, proceeded against or received a penalty notice for disorder for being drunk and disorderly in each of the last three years, broken down by police force area.

Vernon Coaker: The number of  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) under 16, (ii) 16 to 19, (iii) 20 to 25, (iv) 26 to 30, (v) 31 to 40, (vi) 41 to 50, (vii) 51 to 60 and (viii) 61 and over that have been cautioned, proceeded against or received a penalty notice for disorder for being drunk and disorderly in each of the last three years, broken down by police force area has been provided in the tables placed in the House Library.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to tackle binge drinking among adults.

Vernon Coaker: The Government take the issue of binge drinking very seriously. In 'Safe. Sensible. Social. The next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy', the Government set out their plans to tackle binge drinking, particularly focusing on the 18 to 24 age group. The Government are committed to challenging the binge drinking culture through a sustained national campaign to reduce the acceptability of public drunkenness and to increase the awareness of the health harms associated with excessive drinking. The 'Know Your Limits' campaign started in June 2008, and aims to raise the public's knowledge of units of alcohol to ensure that everyone has the information they need to estimate more accurately how much they drink. The Government will also build on the 'Know Your Limits' campaign to raise awareness of the risks of harmful drinking, and will target information and advice towards people who drink at harmful levels, and their families and friends.
	The Government will also continue to take tough enforcement action against those individuals who exhibit unacceptable behaviour while intoxicated. The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 brought in a range of additional measures to tackle alcohol related crime and disorder, including directions to leave which enable the police to ban a person from a locality for a maximum of 48 hours. The Government have also funded four alcohol arrest referral pilots which target alcohol related offenders with the aim of providing interventions to drive home messages about alcohol and risks and to promote behaviour change. The pilots will be extended to a number of other areas by the end of 2008.

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1297W, on asylum, if she will give a breakdown by nationality of the asylum claimants who received leave to remain as a result of grant of  (a) asylum,  (b) humanitarian protection and  (c) discretionary leave in the categories (i) Europe other, (ii) Americas other, (iii) Africa other, (iv) Middle East other and (v) Asia other; and how many dependants received leave to remain in each of these categories and nationalities.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 1 April 2008
	The available information is given in the tables placed in the House Library.
	Information on asylum decisions, including dependants, by nationality is published annually. Copies of asylum statistics publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Asylum: Iraq

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi citizens who applied for asylum as a result of their work for UK forces in Iraq had been granted asylum by 31 March 2008.

Liam Byrne: Information on the reasons for grants of asylum is not collated centrally. Establishing how many Iraqi citizens were granted asylum as a result of their work for the UK forces could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Under the separate scheme of assistance for locally engaged Iraqi staff, published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in his written ministerial statements of 9 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 27WS-28WS, and 30 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 30WS-33WS, certain Iraqi citizens are eligible for assistance as a result of their work for UK forces in Iraq. This scheme provides for individuals who meet the published criteria to qualify for a financial package, indefinite leave to enter the UK, or resettlement to the UK under the Gateway refugee resettlement programme for eligible staff: it does not represent a grant of asylum. Under immigration rules, asylum cannot be claimed from abroad.

Asylum: Uzbekistan

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the human rights situation in Uzbekistan; and what account she has taken of those representations in the Government's policy on asylum seekers from that country.

Liam Byrne: Representations were received from a number of Members in light of a recent individual Uzbeki asylum case asking the Home Office to refrain from removing all failed asylum seekers to Uzbekistan. We closely monitor conditions in Uzbekistan and recognise that there are some individuals who are able to demonstrate a need for international protection. We do not, however, consider that each and every Uzbeki who applies for asylum is in need of international protection. As with all other asylum claims, Uzbeki asylum claims are considered very carefully on their individual merits against the background of the latest country information.

Border and Immigration Agency: Pay

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in the Border and Immigration Agency were given performance-related bonuses or cash payments over 10,000 in each of the last five years; and how much was paid in such payments in each such year.

Liam Byrne: There are no records of staff members being paid bonuses in excess of 10,000 in 2004-05 and 2005-06. One member of staff received performance-related bonus of 12,197 in 2006-07. Data on performance-related bonus payments paid in previously years are not centrally recorded and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Data are not yet available on bonus payments for 2007-08.

e-Borders: Channel Tunnel

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from businesses involved with operations through the Channel Tunnel about the introduction of e-Borders; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Representations have been received from a number of businesses which include Eurotunnel, the British Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Tour Operators.
	The Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) consultation held from 1 August 2007 to 24 October 2007 also had responses from across industry (including Eurotunnel) and subsequently elements of the RIA were amended to reflect the concerns of industry.
	The e-Borders programme continues to engage with the industry to resolve the concerns and to develop a solution which both improves security at the UK border and takes account of the business needs of industry.

e-Borders: Channel Tunnel

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the effect on the time taken for travellers to travel through the Channel Tunnel of the introduction of e-borders.

Liam Byrne: The e-Borders Programme is committed to working with Eurotunnel and other stakeholders to develop a solution which both improves security at the UK border, and takes account of industry business needs.
	An assessment of the impact on travellers will form part of the constructive engagement taking place between the programme and the industry in the development of a range of potential solutions that will permit the operation of a secure, comprehensive and flexible border control.
	The work that has been undertaken to date is focused on maintaining or improving the total transit time in an e-Borders environment. The e-Borders team will continue to work in partnership with Eurotunnel to refine the process.

Departmental Databases

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what databases are  (a) owned and  (b) maintained by (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office owns and maintains a large number of databases. Information about all databases is not held centrally, however centrally held records do indicate that the Department and its agencies own and maintain the following major, business critical databases:
	 Home Office
	Adelphi
	Employment Checks Database
	 Border Agency
	Case Information System (CID)
	Asylum Support System (ASYS)
	Immigration and Asylum Fingerprints System (IAFS)
	GLOBE (Work Permits System)
	Warnings Index
	eBorders database
	Proviso (visa processing)
	Athena (intelligence)
	 Identity and Passport Service
	PASS Database (Passports)
	 Criminal Records Bureau
	Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Departmental Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is her Department's policy to release the home addresses of  (a) senior and  (b) middle-ranking officials, if requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and what assessment she has made of the implications for personal security resulting from the release of such data.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 22 May 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice on 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 640W.

Departmental Manpower

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff employed by her Department since 1 January 2007 have been discovered not to have the right to work in the United Kingdom.

Liam Byrne: No members of staff employed by the Home Office since 1 January 2007 (including those employed by the UK Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau) have been discovered not to have the right to work in the United Kingdom.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list the special advisers employed in her Department since 6 May 1997; and what the  (a) start and  (b) end date of employment was in each case.

Liam Byrne: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information, I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-50WS.
	Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special advisers her Department employs; and what the cost of employing special advisers was in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office currently employs two special advisers. Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-150WS.
	Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Motor Vehicles

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by her Department on car hire outside the Government Car Service in each year since 1997; and whether her Department required particular specifications of the cars hired.

Liam Byrne: Information on spend is available from 2005-06 following the introduction of the Department's enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Collation of information prior to this date is available only at disproportionate cost. The Department's spend on car hire outside the Government Car Service since 2005-06 is as follows:
	
		
			   
			   FY 2005-06  FY 2006-07  FY 2007-08 
			 Home Office Headquarters 660,014 361,440 284,340 
			 Criminal Records Bureau n/k 20,669 15,310 
			 Identity and Passport Service n/k 7,161 35,419 
			 
			 Total 660,014 389,270 335,069 
		
	
	The Department does not have any special specifications for the cars hired and uses standard vehicles.

Departmental Postal Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company.

Liam Byrne: The Department's accounts system does not hold the information at the requested level of detail. An answer could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Property

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what property has been lost or stolen from her Department since 1997; and what the cost of replacement was.

Liam Byrne: Property recorded as lost by or stolen from the Department is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Item  Value () 
			  2001-02   
			 Lost Cash and equipment 802 
			 Stolen Laptops 9,453 
			  4 Mobile phones n/k 
			  Overhead projector 1,893 
			  Computer equipment n/k 
			  Computer equipment 6,124 
			  Fraudulent use of government procurement card 200 
			  Polaroid camera 800 
			
			  2002-03   
			 Lost  0 
			 Stolen Computer equipment 17,874 
			  Two projectors 2,065 
			  Laptop 1,500 
			  Motor Vehicle 10,300 
			
			  2003-04   
			 Lost  0 
			 Stolen 9 mobile finger printing units 13,455 
			
			  2004-05   
			 Lost  0 
			 Stolen Computer equipment 10,000 
			
			  2005-06   
			 Lost  0 
			 Stolen Laptop 1,000 
			
			  2006-07   
			 Lost  0 
			 Stolen 8 assets 3,550 
			
			  2007-08   
			 Lost  0 
			 Stolen 10 assets 8,905 
			 n/k = Not known 
		
	
	Information prior to 2001-02 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Following new Treasury reporting procedures, introduced in 2006-07, the details of stolen assets are not specified.
	The Department has guidelines which should be followed in the event of a theft or loss. All reported thefts or losses are investigated and appropriate action is taken in the light of these investigations.

Departmental Stationery

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on  (a) branded and  (b) non-branded stationery in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The ordering of  (a) branded stationery comprising: letter headings, compliment slips and business cards is a devolved activity and spend is not centrally recorded. Collation of information on annual spend on  (a) branded stationery since 1997 is available only at disproportionate cost. The total value of spend for the two-year period from April 2006 until March 2008 is, however, available and amounted to 174,000.
	Information on spend on  (b) non-branded stationery is available from 2005-06 following the introduction of the Department's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Collation of information prior to this date is available only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's spend on  (b) non-branded stationery since 2005-06 is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 2005-06 3,900,000 
			 2006-07 3,700,000 
			 2007-08 3,600,000

Entry Clearances

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) work permit holders,  (b) dependants of work permit holders,  (c) highly skilled migrants and  (d) dependants of highly skilled migrants were given leave to enter the UK in (i) each year since 1987 and (ii) each quarter since 1st January 2004.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The requested annual information on work permit holders and their dependants is published annually in the Home Office Command Paper 'Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom' which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The quarterly data from 2004 is shown in the following table.
	Information on highly skilled migrants and their dependants given leave to enter will be published on 20 August 2008, in the 2007 Home Office Command Paper, as these data have only been available since June 2007.
	
		
			  Work permit holders and dependants( 1)  given leave to enter the United Kingdom, excluding EEA Swiss nationals, 2004 to 2006( 2) 
			  Number of persons 
			  Year/quarter  Work permit holders  Dependants of work permit holders 
			  2004( 1) 82,655 41,545 
			 of which:   
			 Quarter 1 21,150 8,895 
			 Quarter 2 21,825 10,845 
			 Quarter 3 22,115 12,720 
			 Quarter 4 17,565 9,085 
			
			  2005 91,515 45,520 
			 of which:   
			 Quarter 1 21,185 9,880 
			 Quarter 2 25,755 12,175 
			 Quarter 3 24,270 13,530 
			 Quarter 4 20,305 9,935 
			
			  2006 96,605 48,515 
			 of which:   
			 Quarter 1 21,345 70,380 
			 Quarter 2 26,680 72,970 
			 Quarter 3 27,390 74,770 
			 Quarter 4 21,165 70,450 
			 (1) Includes nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia before 1 May, but excludes them from this date. (2) Provisional and subject to change.  Note: Data rounded to the nearest five, therefore they may not sum to the totals shown.

Entry Clearances

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa centres her Department has in  (a) Russia,  (b) India and  (c) China.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 June 2008
	There are three visa application centres in Russia, 12 in India and 12 in China.

Points-based System

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many businesses had applied for licences to sponsor foreign migrants under the points-based system by 31st May 2008.

Liam Byrne: The number of sponsors who had applied for registration to sponsor migrants under the points-based system by 31 May 2008 was 125.
	 Note:
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Points-based System

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of businesses likely to apply for a licence to sponsor migrants in 2008 who had not done so by 31 May 2008.

Liam Byrne: Our planning assessment indicates that potentially 14,000 sponsors may apply for registration to sponsor migrants by the end of this year.

Points-based System

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will put in place measures to ensure that imams in the United Kingdom who have been issued with religious visas do not espouse a doctrine of violence against those who wish to leave the Islamic faith.

Liam Byrne: With the introduction of the points-based system (PBS) for managing migration, only genuine and reputable employers will be granted a licence to bring migrants to the UK, and this will include religious organisations wishing to bring in religious workers. This is in addition to other measures already in place, such as the screening of passengers at ports, the use of alerts and watch-lists, and checking biometrics taken from visa applicants. The Home Secretary also has the power to exclude or deport from the UK those non-UK nationals whose presence here is not conducive to the public good. This would include those who come within the scope of the list of unacceptable behaviours announced by the former Home Secretary on 24 August 2005.
	We are building on the work that local communities, institutions and organisations are already taking forward to stop people becoming or supporting violent extremists. We see faith leaders as central to a co-ordinated effort to stop promoters of violent extremism from operating unchallenged.

Points-based System

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from the catering industry on the points-based immigration system; which groups she met as part of the development process of the points-based system before it was introduced; how many catering or restaurant groups and organisations she met as part of the development process; and what processes will exist to monitor the sex, age and country of origin of immigrants entering the UK through the points-based system.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office sent its consultation on proposals for a points-based system to 52 representative groups and employers in the hospitality and catering industry and received 10 responses. I have had meetings with interest groups on the development of the points- based system including the Bangladeshi Caterers Association and representatives of the Chinese community. The British Hospitality Association is represented on the Employer Taskforce which, as a consultative group, has informed development of the points-based system. The Home Office will publish an equality impact assessment when it publishes a statement of intent in respect of its proposals for tier 2 of the points-based system and this will indicate what measures will be put in place to monitor race, age and gender impacts.

Points-based System

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many compliance officers are employed by her Department to make checks on job roles, qualifications and salary under the points-based system; and what the average caseload of each compliance officer is;
	(2)  how many account managers are employed by her Department to provide help and guidance to sponsors in discharging their responsibilities under the points-based system; and what the average caseload of each account manager is.

Liam Byrne: There are at present 160 Visiting Officers across the UK who undertake the compliance and account management function under the points-based system.
	This figure is likely to increase by March 2009.
	The current average caseload of each Visiting Officer is 3.5 visits each week.

Points-based System

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of employing  (a) account managers and  (b) compliance officers to deal with sponsorship and compliance under the points-based system in each of the next 10 years.

Liam Byrne: The forecast cost for the current financial year is 6.7 million.
	Requirements for future years will be reviewed in due course.

HOPS Student Exchange Programme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas were offered under the HOPS student exchange programme in 2008; and what representations she has received from farmers on the number of places for migrant labourers to enter the UK on the scheme.

Liam Byrne: The HOPS student exchange programme is not administered by the UK Border Agency. The UK Border Agency has a Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) that enables the provision of short term, low skilled workers to be employed in the agricultural industry.
	The SAWS annual quota for 2008 is 16,250. The quota is managed by nine contracted operators who issue work cards on behalf of the UK Border Agency.
	The scheme is exclusively available to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, therefore no visa is required.
	The Secretary of State has received representations from farmers wishing to see an increase in the number of places available on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers programme and for this scheme to be opened to migrants from outside the European Union.
	The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Jonathan Shaw) and I recently met with the National Farmers' Union and representatives of SAWS operators at which we discussed the labour needs of the agricultural industry and the challenges facing it for the future. We shall continue to keep in touch with the industry on these issues.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 441W, on the Fair trade initiative, at what buildings fairtrade products are  (a) provided and  (b) not provided at official meetings and functions.

Liam Byrne: Fairtrade products are provided for official meetings and functions at 2 Marsham Street, the Home Office Headquarters building. We do not collate information centrally on the availability of Fairtrade goods at other buildings on the Home Office estate.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 441W, on the Fairtrade initiative, how much and what proportion of revenue from her Department's staff catering facilities was accounted for by Fairtrade products in each of the last three financial years.

Liam Byrne: This information is not available. The Department does not receive information on revenue at its staff catering facilities as this is the responsibility of the catering suppliers.

Foreign Workers: EU Nationals

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many migrant workers from A8 countries have worked in the UK since 2004.

Liam Byrne: Information on A8 workers, who have registered under the Worker Registration Scheme, which started in May 2004, is available on the following link, although not all A8 migrant workers need to register under the Worker Registration Scheme.
	A copy of the Accession Monitoring Report is available in the House Library.
	http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/reports/accession_monitoring_report/

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will include checks for trafficked victims as part of the new watch list being introduced for aircraft passengers on high-risk routes.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 22 May 2008
	e-Borders will require commercial carriers and owner/operators of all vessels scheduled to arrive in or depart the UK to submit to the e-Borders system, and provide detailed passenger, service and crew data prior to their departure to and from the UK.
	Those data will be checked against watch lists, analysed, risk assessed and shared between UK border agencies. It will improve border security and assist in the fight against organised crime and illegal migration.
	The UK Border Agency maintains a watch list of information and intelligence which is used to inform decisions. It is longstanding policy not to disclose the specific data held on this watchlist or the source of the data on it.

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2008,  Official Report, column 883W, on human trafficking, what definition of the term juxtaposed controls she uses.

Liam Byrne: Juxtaposed controls were introduced in France and Belgium to further strengthen and enhance the protection of the UK borders. Juxtaposed controls are established through bilateral agreements and allow the authorities of two states to operate frontier controls alongside each other in both states. They are fully reciprocal.
	This reciprocal arrangement provides the French authorities with the facilities to operate their frontier control from the United Kingdom, while the UK Border Agency operates the UK frontier control from France and Belgium. This effectively allows UK Border Agency staff to check 100 per cent. of all passengers and their documents before they disembark to enter the UK. The French authorities, Police Aux Frontieres (PAF), are responsible for managing the security of the French border and do so from the English side of the juxtaposed control.
	Juxtaposed controls have existed at the Channel Tunnel sites in Coquelles and Cheriton since the opening of the Tunnel System in 1994. The arrangements are governed by the Sangatte Protocol under the treaty of Canterbury. On 29 May 2000, the Additional Protocol to the Sangatte Protocol was signed to allow commencement of juxtaposed controls at designated Eurostar terminals in France.
	The Anglo-French Le Touquet Treaty was signed on 4 February 2003, giving UK Border Agency staff the power to operate a juxtaposed control in France at the northern French Seaports of Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque.
	Juxtaposed controls currently operate at Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque ferry ports, as well as the Eurotunnel terminal at Coquelles, and the Eurostar stations of Brussels, Paris, Lille and Frethun.
	The French authorities operate their controls in the UK at St. Pancras, Ebbsfleet, Ashford International, Dover and Cheriton. These are the UK terminals which are currently served by the French operations covered under the terms of the various Treaties and Protocols which govern the operation of juxtaposed controls.

Identity Cards: Foreigners

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 88W, on identity cards: foreigners, for what reasons the fingerprint biometrics will be stored on an embedded chip in an identity card instead of holding fingerprint records centrally.

Liam Byrne: Two fingerprints will be stored on an embedded chip in an identity card for foreign nationals to comply with EU regulations. However, a full set of fingerprints will also be held on the same database already used to store fingerprints recorded by foreign nationals when applying for visas.

Illegal Immigrants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has made to French authorities in Calais on the use by British border guards of X-ray machines to detect illegal immigrants in lorries; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 30 January 2008
	The UK and France are committed to working jointly to tackle the issue of illegal immigration. This commitment was further enhanced at the recent UK-France summit. During the summit, British and French Ministers agreed to implement a number of measures to strengthen the security and quality of border controls in Calais and to develop a joint action plan to look more broadly at the continuing pressure from illegal migration in the Pas de Calais region.
	In addition to these concrete proposals on further improving the very effective measures already in place to combat cross channel people smuggling and abuse of UK immigration laws, we continue to explain to the French Government the benefits of deploying gamma scanners in France in order to seek agreement to their deployment.
	Although current French domestic health and safety legislation prevents the use of X-ray and gamma ray radiation for the purpose of searching for people we do deploy gamma ray search scanners to search for clandestines in the UK and Belgium.
	In France, the Border and Immigration Agency uses a range of effective detection technology to search for people. This includes passive millimetre wave imaging which uses natural radiation, heartbeat detections, carbon dioxide probes and search dogs.
	The UK and France are committed to combating illegal immigration and in the port of Calais throughout 2007, with the assistance of Calais Chamber of Commerce (CCCI), Eamus Cork Security (ECS), Border and Immigration Agency staff successfully prevented 11,700 clandestine attempts from crossing the channel to enter the UK. An additional 2,159 people were also refused entry to the UK.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1040, what definition of lorry drops her Department uses in relation to the detection and detaining of suspected illegal immigrants.

Liam Byrne: Clandestine illegal entrants include those who enter concealed in a vehicle including lorries, vans, caravans, motor homes or any other commercial vehicle. If a police or immigration officer is satisfied that an illegal entrant has arrived clandestinely within the last 72 hours, by whatever means of transport, then the person's arrival is a clandestine event. In enforcement this is commonly referred to as a lorry drop.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) companies and  (b) individuals have been successfully prosecuted for employing illegal immigrants.

Liam Byrne: National Statistics showing the number of persons proceeded against and found guilty under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 in England and Wales are shown in the accompanying table.
	The measures contained in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 to tackle illegal migrant working, which provide the UK Border Agency with a wider and more effective range of tools with which to tackle non-compliance, came into force on 29 February 2008. The 2006 Act introduced a system of civil penalties for employers who employ illegal migrants through less than diligent practices, alongside a tough new offence for those who knowingly employ illegal migrants, which carries a maximum two year prison sentence and/or an unlimited fine.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 in England and Wales, 1997-2006( 1, 2) 
			   Number of persons 
			  Employing a person aged 16 and above subject to immigration control  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005( 3)  2006( 3) 
			 Proceeded against 0 1 4 10 5 2 2 11 23 11 
			 Found guilty 0 1 1 4 1 1 1 8 13 7 
			 (1) Principal immigration offence.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3) Figures are provisional.

Immigrants: Employment

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 5-6WS, on the UK Border Agency detention estate, how many illegal working operations have been mounted in each month of 2008.

Liam Byrne: The Government are committed to a much tougher approach to enforcing the immigration rules, including targeting illegal migrant working and its harmful social effects.
	The number of illegal working operations in each month of 2008 and 2007 (1 January to 30 April each year) are as follows:
	
		
			   Illegal working enforcement visits 
			   2007  2008 
			 January 496 914 
			 February 464 732 
			 March 490 668 
			 April 489 589 
		
	
	The total number of operations carried out in the first four months of 2008 is 2,903. This is an increase of 49 per cent. in comparison with the same period in 2007. The data provided is management information. It may be subject to change and does not represent published national statistics.

Immigrants: Detainees

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any civil proceedings were settled in court against  (a) her Department's employees and  (b) contractors' employees, including immigration removal centre staff and immigration escort staff, for assaults against immigrants detained in immigration removal centres or immigrants who have formally been detained in immigration removal centres in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The UK Border Agency does not hold this information in the format requested.

Immigration: Catering

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the demand for and supply of labour in the ethnic catering business and the effect on immigration policies; whether she plans to give consideration to placing all ethnic catering on the shortage occupation list; and how many immigration enforcement raids there have been in the last 12 months in  (a) the UK and  (b) the south-west on catering outlets.

Liam Byrne: It will be for the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to make an assessment of labour market conditions in particular sectors of the economy and advise whether, as a consequence, particular occupations should appear on the shortage occupation list. The MAC has been tasked with producing a shortage occupation list in June 2008.
	Internal management information, which may be subject to change, indicates that there were a total of 3,473 enforcement visits carried out at restaurants and takeaways in 2007-08 of which 420 were carried out in Wales and the south-west for the same period.

Immigration: Local Authorities

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 96W, on immigration: local authorities, which local authorities have  (a) expressed an interest in submitting claims and  (b) submitted a claim to the transitional costs fund; what the value of claims submitted is; what the timetable for (i) submitting claims and (ii) receiving payment is; and what plans she has for a transitional costs fund for subsequent years.

Liam Byrne: We do not hold information centrally on those local authorities who have expressed an interest in submitting a claim.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply published on 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 276W.
	Originally the timetable was for initial claims to be made by January 15 with payment by February, further claims to be made by 30 April with payment by May/June 2008 and remaining claims for 2007-08 were requested to be received by 30 June 2008. The 30 April deadline was extended to 23 May in order to give local authorities more time to complete their claim. Final claims for reimbursement during 2008-09 should be made by 31 March 2009.
	In regard to future plans the UK Border Agency will be in touch with key local stakeholders including local authorities, via the regional links already in place to further discuss how we can best plan the conclusion of cases going forward in their local area.

Immigration: Tribunals

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of cases presented in asylum and immigration tribunals by each of her Department's presenting officers was in 2007.

Liam Byrne: Information on the average number of cases presented by a presenting officer is not available. However, a full-time presenting officer is expected to go to court 11 days per month and present a scheduled list of cases on each of those days. Depending on the different types of cases listed (asylum, managed migration, entry clearance) and the time they take to be heard, the number to be presented can vary from one to eight per day.

London Airports

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times her Department hired VIP facilities at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick,  (c) Luton and  (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office accounting system does not separately identify expenditure on usage of VIP lounges. To provide the requested detail would incur disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the time taken to reply to the letter of 29 February 2008 from the hon. Member for North Down in relation to Mrs Margaret Rippey.

Liam Byrne: The delay was due to an administrative error.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter of 3 January 2008 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, transferred from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 April, on the security of personal data of British nationals.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 June 2008
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport offered the hon. Member's letter to the Home Office for reply on 2 April 2008. It was declined the same day because the subject matter of the letter is not the responsibility of the Home Office.

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency plans to respond to the letter of 27 March 2008 from the hon. Member for Walsall North on a constituent, reference M4885/8.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5June 2008
	I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 5 June 2008.

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency will reply to the right hon. Member for Warley's letter of 11 April 2008 regarding Mr Z. S. Suleiman.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency wrote to my right hon. Friend on 5 June 2008.

UK Border Agency: Training

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the length of the training period was for  (a) immigration officers and  (b) asylum officers before taking up their new responsibilities in the UK Border Agency.

Liam Byrne: Immigration officers undertake an intensive five-week Learning and Development Induction Programme along with at least four weeks mentoring by a senior colleague.
	Training to support the implementation of the future model for the Border Force has focused on five flagship locations (Gatwick, Edinburgh, Coquelles, Harwich and Teesport) where immigration officers are receiving an additional two days training to enable them to profile and question for customs purposes on the front-line. A number of HMRC staff joining the Border Force are receiving two weeks training to enable them to process passengers on the primary line for immigration purposes and to examine travel documents for forgery. In addition, HMRC staff at freight ports are receiving two days training to search for clandestine entrants. Following the roll-out of the flagship sites, training will be reviewed before the next phase of implementation.
	All asylum case owners continue to undergo a 55-day Foundation Training Programme, including periods of mentoring and coaching, which has recently been updated to reflect internal and external feedback.

Work Permits: Health Professions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued to (a) doctors and  (b) nurses from each African country in 2007.

Liam Byrne: The following table shows the number of work permit applications from nurses and doctors from African countries that were approved in the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			  Work permit applications cleared between 1 January and 31 December 2007 
			   Doctor  Nurse  Total 
			 Botswana 0 35 35 
			 Burundi 0 (1) 0 
			 Cameroon (1) 20 20 
			 Congo 0 (1) 0 
			 Egypt 35 0 35 
			 Gambia 0 10 10 
			 Ghana 5 195 200 
			 Kenya (1) 90 95 
			 Lesotho (1) 25 25 
			 Libya 5 0 5 
			 Malawi (1) 35 35 
			 Mauritius 0 145 145 
			 Namibia 0 10 10 
			 Nigeria 20 385 405 
			 Rwanda 0 (1) 0 
			 Seychelles 0 5 5 
			 Sierra Leone 0 20 20 
			 Somalia 0 (1) 0 
			 South Africa 135 540 675 
			 Sudan 15 0 15 
			 Swaziland 0 25 25 
			 Tanzania (1) 20 20 
			 Togo 0 (1) 0 
			 Uganda (1) 30 30 
			 Zambia 0 135 135 
			 Zimbabwe 5 1,050 1,055 
			 Total 230 2,780 3,005 
			 (1) Indicates figure of 1 or 2.   Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 5.

Written Questions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to answer question 162351, tabled by the hon. Member for Hertsmere on 6 November, on work-permit holders.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 17 March 2008,  Official Report, column 796W.

JUSTICE

Victims Surcharge

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what charitable and voluntary organisations which provide support to victims of domestic violence and abuse received support from the Victims Surcharge in 2007-08; how much each organisation received; and what procedures there are for applications to be made to the funds;
	(2)  what criteria charitable and voluntary groups concerned with redress for domestic violence and abuse have to meet to be eligible for payments from the Victims Surcharge.

Bridget Prentice: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 20 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 272-75W.
	Services supporting the 64 specialist domestic violence courts in operation at the end of 2006-07 were automatically considered for funding for 2007-08 upon receipt of satisfactory performance information.
	Invitations to bid for funding were sent on 8 June 2007 from the SDVC steering group to all Home Office regional directors, Government office DV leads, the SDVC expert panel, Crown Prosecution Service co-ordinators, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership chairs, HMCS area directors and Justices' clerks. Those contacts were asked to forward the invitation to services in non-SDVC areas and those whom they knew to be interested in SDVC accreditation.
	Services were invited to apply for funding on the provision of service workload information, level of accredited training completed, supervision and monitoring structures, evidence of partnership working (for example their level of involvement with multi-agency risk assessment conferences), plans to develop a SDVC and/or other project initiative such as links to support in the family courts.

Victims Surcharge

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which men's support groups have received awards from the Victims Surcharge in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The revenue raised from the Victims Surcharge has been used to fund a wide range of services for victims and witnesses. This includes: Witness Care Units; Victim Support Plus; Independent Domestic Violence Advisors; and the Victims Fund. Many of these services are not gender specific. Survivors UK, which provides targeted support for male victims of sexual abuse and rape, received a grant of 30,000 in 2007-08 from the Victims Fund. This grant has been renewed for 2008-09.

Freedom of Information: Conferences

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what contribution  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department made to the Freedom of Information Live 2008 conference on 3 June 2008; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such contribution.

Michael Wills: I gave a keynote address to the FOI Live conference on 3 June 2008. A Ministry of Justice official contributed to the conference by delivering a 'Practitioner Update' presentation and two other officials chaired sessions at the event. The presentations and recordings from the event are available on the University College London Constitution Unit website:
	http://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/foidp/events/foilive 2008.html

Mortgages: Repossession Orders

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court orders were issued for the repossession of homes in  (a) Hemel Hempstead constituency,  (b) each local authority area in Hertfordshire and  (c) England in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: The following tables show the number of mortgage and landlord possession orders made in all county courts in the Hertfordshire region and in England since 1997.
	These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts, since not all the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.
	The civil procedure rules state that all claims for the repossession of land must be commenced in the district in which the land is situated. However, county courts' jurisdictions are not coterminous with the borough boundaries, and therefore any single court's repossession actions are likely to relate to homes in a number of different boroughs.
	
		
			  Table 1: Mortgage( 1)  possession orders( 2, 3 ) in the county courts( 4)  of Hertfordshire since 1997 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Hertford(5) 111 189 103 86 58 78 88 86 134 198  
			 Hitchin(5) 252 402 218 151 154 151 155 183 288 321  
			 St. Albans(5) 77 68 72 59 53 45 87 78 102 158  
			 Watford 188 463 284 241 217 224 249 258 418 516 508 
			 Hemel Hempstead(6) 72 91  
			 Bishop's Stortford(6) 75   
			 
			 Hertfordshire 775 1,213 677 537 482 498 579 605 942 1,193  
			 
			 South East 14,019 15,745 9,934 8,936 8,099 7,422 8,201 10,050 15,220 17,693 17,824 
			 
			 England 53,530 61,581 52,370 47,033 44,459 38,631 38,210 44,036 67,019 85,244 88,993 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Landlord( 7, 8, 9)  possession orders( 2, 3 ) in the county courts( 4)  of Hertfordshire since 1999 
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Hertford(5) 288 283 266 217 257 253 247 191  
			 Hitchin(5) 435 429 532 505 492 412 375 316  
			 St. Albans(5) 276 271 270 230 291 264 290 277  
			 Watford 806 848 1,130 935 830 893 907 812 653 
			   
			 Hertfordshire 1,805 1,831 2,198 1,887 1,870 1,822 1,819 1,596  
			   
			 South East 19,284 21,730 21,061 21,308 20,336 19,834 19,157 18,093 18,973 
			   
			 England 116,446 121,434 125,477 126,089 114,589 111,782 106,681 100,912 100,761 
			 (1) Mortgage data include all types of lenders. (2) Orders include both suspended orders and non-suspended orders. (3) The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (4) Does not include the small number of possession actions entered in the High Court. (5) The roll-out of the Possession Claim On-Line (PCOL) system in late 2006 has affected the availability of court-level data on mortgage possession orders. As a result, it is only possible to provide court-level figures for those courts with direct on-site PCOL access for 2007. Therefore, upward adjustments have been made for the missing data at HMCS regional level, which for Hertfordshire is the South East. (6) Courts now closed or merged with other county courts. (7) Landlord data include all types of landlords. (8) Court level data are not available for all landlord possession actions prior to 1999. (9) Landlord possession orders made through standard and accelerated procedures.  Source: Ministry of Justice.

Office of the Public Guardian

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent changes have taken place in the  (a) senior personnel and  (b) administrative practices of the Office of the Public Guardian; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Richard Brook, the Public Guardian and Chief Executive of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) informed the Ministry of Justice in April of his intention to resign in order to take up a position within the charity sector. Beyond Richard's planned departure in July, there have been no other changes to senior staff within the OPG or Court of Protection. The Ministry of Justice, is currently in the process of appointing his successor and we will announce shortly.
	The administrative practices in the Office of the Public Guardian are largely determined by its governing legislation, the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Those practices are kept under review but have not recently been changed, although additional resourcesboth staff and IT capacityhave been provided to deal with current high volumes of work.

Office of the Public Guardian

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many Lasting Powers of Attorney have been registered by the Office of the Public Guardian under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 since their introduction;
	(2)  how many Enduring Powers of Attorney were registered by the Office of the Public Guardian between  (a) October 2006 and October 2007 and  (b) October 2005 and October 2006;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the implementation of Lasting Powers of Attorney by the Office of the Public Guardian under the Mental Capacity Act 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: In the eight-month period between the commencement of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in October 2007 and 4 June 2008, the Office of the Public Guardian has completed registration of 3,429 Lasting Powers of Attorney. During the same period it has completed registration of 13,939 Enduring Powers of Attorney.
	Before October 2007 the Court of Protection was responsible for registering Enduring Powers of Attorney. Between October 2005 and October 2006 the Court registered 17,319 Enduring Powers of Attorney and between October 2006 and October 2007 it registered 20,585 powers.
	Those figures indicate a significant increase in the number of powers attorney that have been registered with the OPG in its first eight months of operation. The figures do not include those applications already received that are still being processed, or where the OPG has sought further information. In addition, the OPG is continuing to see increases in the number of applications from month to month.
	The Office of the Public Guardian will be reviewing the effectiveness of the Mental Capacity Act from October 2008 once it has been operation for a full year and there has been an opportunity to see how well it is working in practice. As part of this review the OPG will be looking at the way the new Lasting Powers of Attorney are operating, including their design and the accompanying guidance and determining what changes might be necessary or desirable.

Prisoners: Repatriation

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on policy to secure agreement with other countries on the transfer to them of prisoners of their nationality held in the UK.

David Hanson: A trilateral meeting has been established to discuss issues relating to the removal of foreign nationals from the United Kingdom, including the transfer of foreign national prisoners to their own country. The meeting is attended by Ministers of State from the Ministry of Justice, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Home Office. The group met on 5 June. Other meetings with ministerial colleagues take place on an ad hoc basis as necessary.

Prisons: Population

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects prison capacity in England and Wales to reach 86,000; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: I will respond to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Small Claims

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  in how many small claims cases in the county court in 2007 parties were represented at any stage by  (a) counsel and  (b) a solicitor;
	(2)  how many claimants in small claims cases in the county court appeared at court in person in 2007;
	(3)  how many complaints his Department received on the  (a) system and  (b) procedures of the small claims court in each of the last three years; and what three subjects were most frequently raised in such complaints;
	(4)  how many successful small claims made in the county court in 2007 resulted in  (a) recovery of monies claimed without recourse to further action,  (b) recovery of monies claimed following intervention of bailiffs and  (c) failure to recover monies claimed;
	(5)  what average time elapsed between commencement and finish of county court cases for claims under the value of 5,000 which were defended and had a hearing in Chambers or courts in  (a) 2000 and  (b) 2007;
	(6)  how many claims under 5,000 were lodged in the county court in 2007; how many were defended with  (a) a defence and  (b) a counterclaim; and how many defended actions were heard in (i) open court and (ii) in chambers.

Bridget Prentice: Table 1 shows the numbers of small claims in the county courts of England and Wales in 2007, broken down according to whether the claimant was represented and whether the defendant was represented in each case. The data were sourced from the main administrative system in the county courts (CaseMan) which holds the details of legal representatives, but not whether these were barristers (counsel) or solicitors. Representation details can be added, amended or deleted from CaseMan at any stage during a case's progression through the court. The figures shown reflect the latest recorded data on representation in small claims hearings that took place during 2007.
	Based on these figures it can be calculated that 32,163 (60 per cent.) of the 53,226 small claims hearings in 2007 involved at least one party which had legal representation. Claimants were not legally represented in 28,362 (53 per cent.) of cases.
	HM Courts Service (HMCS) records its centrally received user complaints in one of 10 categories. These relate to the stage of the court process which prompted the complaint, rather than to the type of case being heard. It is therefore not possible to identify complaints that explicitly relate to small claims cases. However, Table 2 shows a breakdown by category of all complaints received centrally by HMCS in the last three financial years. These figures cover all areas of HM Courts Service business, encompassing over 1 million small claims among a total of over 4 million cases per year across civil, criminal and family justice.
	During 2007, county court bailiffs recovered an average of 89.5 pence in the pound from correctly directed warrants of execution (i.e. where the creditor supplied the correct address) across all cases in the county courts of England and Wales in 2007. Data are not currently available for small claims alone, or on the recovery of monies other than through the actions of county court bailiffs.
	During 2007, there were an average of 28 weeks between the date of issue and the date of hearing for small claims (whether for specified or unspecified amounts) disposed of at hearing in England and Wales. The equivalent figure for 2000 was 29 weeks, although there were changes in the data collection method during the intervening period meaning that the comparison should be treated with caution.
	There were 1.194 million claims issued in the county courts of England and Wales for specified amounts of 5,000 or less during 2007. Of these, 382,000 (32 per cent. of the total) were issued at named local county courts, rather than via the Money Claims On-Line (MCOL) service or the County Court Bulk Centre (CCBC). There were 92,000 defences entered in response to these locally-issued claims, with 11,000 of these defences incorporating a counterclaim.
	In addition, there were 107,000 claims issued via MCOL or the CCBC which were transferred into local county courts after either a defence or a counterclaim was received. Most of these claims will relate to specified amounts of 5,000 or less, and therefore the total number of defences issued for all claims of this type (regardless of the issuing route) is around 200,000. However, please note that a single claim can name more than one defendant, and can therefore lead to more than one defence being entered.
	During 2007, there were 49,000 small claims hearings in claims involving specified amounts of 5,000. These claims may have originally been issued in 2007 or in earlier years. Information is not available on whether these hearings took place in open court or in chambers.
	Please note that all figures given for the year 2007 should be considered provisional. Final figures for this year will be published in the Ministry of Justice report Judicial and Court Statistics which is planned for release later this year.
	
		
			  Table 1: Small claim hearings by party representation in the county courts of England and Wales, 2007 
			   Number 
			  No legal representative for claimant  
			 No legal representative for defendant 21,063 
			 Legal representative for defendant 7,299 
			   
			  Legal representative for claimant  
			 No legal representative for defendant 13,876 
			 Legal representative for defendant 10,988 
			 Total 53,226 
			  Notes:  1. There is considered to be a defendant representation if at least one defendant in a case is represented.  2. The breakdown by party representation is estimated and excludes data from a very small minority of courts.   Source:  HMCS CaseMan system. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of complaints received by type in the county courts of England and Wales, 2005-06 to 2007-08 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Case trial management 2,274 3,192 4,970 
			 Issue/commencement of proceedings 2,077 2,672 2,232 
			 Enforcement 2,795 3,398 3,632 
			 Facilities 1,019 1,316 1,149 
			 Listing of case (listing/scheduling) 1,977 2,469 2,378 
			 Judicial decision/conduct of case 1,730 1,292 1,243 
			 Discrimination/diversity 119 129 114 
			 Other administrative error 4,234 3,558  
			 Feedback for other bodies 610 493 600 
			 Staff 1,594 1,732 1,762 
			 Total 18,429 20,251 18,080 
			  Note:  The complaint categories are reviewed annually and it was decided that the Other administrative error category should be removed for 2007-08. This was because the other categories provided sufficient flexibility for complaints to be recorded under them.   Source:  HMCS, Customer Analysis and Feedback system.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Business Premises: Fines

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been collected from fines on void business lettings in each of the last three years.

John Healey: Central Government do not collect data on the amount of revenues raised from the unoccupied property rate. However, it is estimated that the recent changes to the empty property rate will reduce the costs of empty property rate relief by 950 million in 2008-09.

Empty Property: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of unoccupied domestic properties in  (a) private and  (b) local authority ownership in each London borough.

Iain Wright: The data given as follows provide the information requested:
	
		
			  Vacancies by tenure for London boroughs, 2007 
			   Total empty homes( 1)  LA( 2)  Registered social landlord( 3)  Other public sector( 2)  Private sector( 4) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,064 654 24 0 1,386 
			 Barnet 3,319 94 58 192 2,975 
			 Bexley 2,247 (5) 135 0 2,112 
			 Brent 2,734 258 247 14 2,215 
			 Bromley 3,537 (5) 329 0 3,208 
			 Camden 2,726 418 116 0 2,192 
			 City of London 122 2 3 41 76 
			 Croydon 4,052 135 167 7 3,743 
			 Ealing 3,406 316 167 15 2,908 
			 Enfield 3,218 250 68 55 2,845 
			 Greenwich 3,294 604 211 0 2,479 
			 Hackney 3,646 1,051 283 0 2,312 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2,300 235 146 21 1,898 
			 Haringey 1,782 160 175 0 1,447 
			 Harrow 1,123 38 100 33 952 
			 Havering 2,854 345 42 0 2,467 
			 Hillingdon 2,069 160 54 120 1,735 
			 Hounslow 1,571 215 69 18 1,269 
			 Islington 2,334 439 189 3 1,703 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,232 56 138 21 3,017 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2,199 44 29 0 2,126 
			 Lambeth 3,475 847 254 12 2,362 
			 Lewisham 1,924 592 272 0 1,060 
			 Merton 1,422 58 37 1 1,326 
			 Newham 4,034 662 152 0 3,220 
			 Redbridge 2,829 22 40 28 2,739 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,958 8 59 12 1,879 
			 Southwark 2,520 1,293 270 0 957 
			 Sutton 2,141 139 23 0 1,979 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,223 271 341 2 1,609 
			 Waltham Forest 2,383 103 184  2,096 
			 Wandsworth 1,896 150 105 88 1,553 
			 Westminster 3,962 227 164 103 3,468 
			 (5 )Not applicable since Bexley and Bromley have no local authority stock.  Sources: (1) Council Tax Base 1 as reported by local authorities at October 2007. (2 )Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix as reported by local authorities at 1 April 2007. (3 )Regulatory Statistical Return as reported by Registered Social Landlords at 31 March Residual i.e. CTB total less LA, RSL and other public sector .

Fire Prevention: Livestock Premises

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what penalties may be imposed upon those responsible for ensuring fire risk assessments are conducted on stables and other livestock premises for not fulfilling their duty.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 sets out the duties on the responsible person to carry out a fire risk assessment and put in place suitable and sufficient fire precautions. The extent to which a responsible person is considered to be complying adequately with the requirements of the legislation and managing the risk on their premises is a matter of judgment, based on the professional experience and expertise of the individual fire safety audit officer.
	In the event of non-compliance, there are a range of measures that can be taken to improve fire safety on all premises covered by this legislation. The two main measures available to enforcing authorities (primarily fire and rescue authorities) are enforcement notices, which require changes to be made over a specified period of time; and prohibition notices, which effectively shut premises down until improvements are made.
	In the event that a responsible person does not act to improve fire safety in response to an enforcement or prohibition notice from the Fire and Rescue Authority, or, in any event, if failure to comply with the requirements of the Order places persons at risk of death or serious injury in case of fire, they are liable to prosecution in the courts. The level of penalty to be applied as a consequence of prosecution is a matter for the courts, subject to a maximum of an unlimited fine and/or two years' imprisonment in the Crown court, or a fine of 5,000 in a magistrates court.

Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which districts have held emergency planning measures and resilience scenarios to prepare for future floods following the summer floods of 2007 and the recommendations of the Interim Pitt Review.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Since 2005, the principal mechanism for multi-agency cooperation in preparing for emergencies has been the local resilience forum, based mainly on each police area rather than districts(1), and bringing together the emergency services and other category one and two responders as defined in the 2004 Civil Contingencies Act.
	All local resilience forums are required under the Act to carry out assessments of the risks of emergencies in their areas. Many(2) local resilience forums have a collectively agreed multi-agency flood response plan; and nearly all of the main category one responders within them either contribute to these plans or take account of flooding incidents in their own emergency response plans. Most of the plans that exist had already been reviewed in the period following the summer flooding; and multi-agency plans are being further reviewed following the issue of new guidance from Government in February this year. The Government specifically wrote to all LRF chairs in February and again in May 2008 asking LRFs to let us know how the new guidance was being embedded at a local level. The replies we have had in to date give a clear indication that many LRFs have been very active since the floods last year. In particular, it seems evident that significant effort has gone into identifying the lessons of 2007 and improving local risk assessments, plans and their general state of preparedness (mostly through better activation procedures and clarity over roles and responsibilities).
	(1) For example the North Yorkshire LRF area comprises seven district councils (Selby, Harrogate, Ryedale, Scarborough, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Craven) and the City of York. All seven district councils have some form of multi-agency flood response plan.
	(2) According to the initial results of the 2008 national capability survey. A more comprehensive analysis is due to be undertaken shortly.

Floods: Housing

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were flooded in England in 2007, broken down by county; and in how many cases households remain unable to return to their homes.

John Healey: Water entered the habitable areas of the properties of approximately 48,000 households in the floods of June and July 2007. The breakdown by local authority, grouped by region and local authority where applicable is as follows:
	
		
			  Local authority  Region  Total households affected 
			 Amber Valley East Midlands 26 
			 Bolsover East Midlands 22 
			 Chesterfield East Midlands 500 
			 Derby East Midlands 19 
			 Derbyshire Dales East Midlands 230 
			 Erewash East Midlands 29 
			 High Peak East Midlands 26 
			 North East Derbyshire East Midlands 69 
			 South Derbyshire East Midlands 7 
			
			 Blaby East Midlands 6 
			 Hinckley and Bosworth East Midlands 6 
			 Leicester East Midlands 1 
			 Melton East Midlands 18 
			 North West Leicestershire East Midlands 1 
			
			 Boston East Midlands 158 
			 East Lindsey East Midlands 1,112 
			 Lincoln East Midlands 35 
			 West Lindsey East Midlands 280 
			
			 Daventry East Midlands 3 
			 Kettering East Midlands 4 
			 Northampton East Midlands 3 
			 South Northamptonshire East Midlands 50 
			
			 Ashfield East Midlands 61 
			 Bassetlaw East Midlands 810 
			 Broxtowe East Midlands 6 
			 Gedling East Midlands 53 
			 Mansfield East Midlands 20 
			 Newark and Sherwood East Midlands 475 
			 Nottingham East Midlands 14 
			
			 North Norfolk District Eastern 3 
			
			 Bexley London 30 
			 Brent London 25 
			 Croydon London 250 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham London 147 
			 Harrow London 10 
			 Havering London 4 
			 Kensington and Chelsea London 307 
			 Kingston upon Thames London 50 
			 Merton London 30 
			 Richmond upon Thames London 100 
			 Sutton London 250 
			 Wandsworth London 60 
			
			 Chester-le-Street North East 200 
			 Derwentside North East 30 
			 Easington North East 7 
			 Teesdale North East 4 
			 Wear Valley North East 2 
			
			 Tynedale North East 20 
			
			 Darlington North East 85 
			 Redcar and Cleveland North East 15 
			
			 Newcastle upon Tyne North East 12 
			 North Tyneside North East 70 
			
			 Pendle District North West 16 
			
			 Reading South East 135 
			 Slough South East 30 
			 West Berkshire South East 2,510 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead South East 120 
			 Wokingham South East 141 
			
			 Aylesbury Vale South East 43 
			 Milton Keynes South East 8 
			
			 Wealden South East 30 
			
			 Basingstoke and Deane South East 10 
			 Rushmoor South East 7 
			
			 Cherwell South East 66 
			 Oxford South East 190 
			 South Oxfordshire South East 3 
			 Vale of White Horse South East 1,015 
			 West Oxfordshire South East 1,631 
			
			 Surrey Heath South East 35 
			 Woking South East 14 
			
			 South Hams South West 0 
			 Torridge South West 2 
			
			 North Dorset South West 20 
			
			 Cheltenham South West 765 
			 Cotswold South West 950 
			 Forest of Dean South West 90 
			 Gloucester South West 903 
			 South Gloucestershire South West 8 
			 Stroud South West 150 
			 Tewkesbury South West 1,859 
			
			 Mendip South West 2 
			 North Somerset South West 77 
			 South Somerset South West 1 
			 West Somerset South West 1 
			
			 Kennet South West 2 
			 North Wiltshire South West 0 
			 Swindon South West 65 
			
			 Herefordshire West Midlands 228 
			
			 Bridgnorth West Midlands 155 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham West Midlands 3 
			 South Shropshire West Midlands 264 
			 Telford and Wrekin West Midlands 62 
			
			 East Staffordshire West Midlands 1 
			 Lichfield West Midlands 138 
			 Newcastle-under-Lyme West Midlands 50 
			 South Staffordshire West Midlands 2 
			 Stafford District West Midlands 21 
			
			 North Warwickshire West Midlands 78 
			 Nuneaton West Midlands 9 
			 Rugby West Midlands 88 
			 Stratford-on-Avon West Midlands 1,500 
			 Warwick West Midlands 214 
			
			 Birmingham West Midlands 277 
			 Dudley West Midlands 106 
			 Sandwell West Midlands 35 
			 Solihull West Midlands 158 
			
			 Bromsgrove West Midlands 89 
			 Malvera Hills West Midlands 820 
			 Redditch West Midlands 73 
			 Worcester West Midlands 179 
			 Wychavon West Midlands 1,579 
			 Wyre Forest West Midlands 1,228 
			
			 City of Kingston upon Hull Yorkshire and the Humber 8,657 
			 East Riding Yorkshire and the Humber 6,079 
			
			 North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber 469 
			 North Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber 436 
			
			 Hambleton Yorkshire and the Humber 5 
			 Harrogate Yorkshire and the Humber 100 
			 Richmondshire Yorkshire and the Humber 72 
			 Ryedale Yorkshire and the Humber 49 
			 Scarborough Yorkshire and the Humber 115 
			 Selby Yorkshire and the Humber 137 
			 Barnsley Yorkshire and the Humber 666 
			 Doncaster Yorkshire and the Humber 3,037 
			 Rotherham Yorkshire and the Humber 428 
			 Sheffield Yorkshire and the Humber 1,276 
			
			 Bradford Yorkshire and the Humber 16 
			 Kirklees Yorkshire and the Humber 252 
			 Leeds Yorkshire and the Humber 250 
			 Wakefield Yorkshire and the Humber 1,737 
			
			 Total  47,792 
		
	
	As at 30 April 2008, we estimate that approximately 5,650 households remain wholly or partially displaced from their homes.

Homelessness

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the level of homelessness was in each region, in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level. The Department does not hold statistics for the devolved Administrations.
	Information collected includes the number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty. The duty owed to an accepted household is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	National and regional data on acceptances and temporary accommodation over the last 10 years are published in our quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness, in Tables 3 and 7. The latest release was published on 10 March 2008 and contains data from 1997 to 2007:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/715137
	Since 1998, information has also been collected on the number of people who sleep roughthat is, those who are literally roofless on a single nightand these are also published on our website, nationally and by local authority, and are available up to 2007:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/publicationsabouthomelessness/roughsleepingstatistics/

Homelessness

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) funded on the number of homeless people who had been in care.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department collects and publishes information on the number of care leavers annually. In 2006-07 (the most recent year for which we have data), 8,000 children aged 16 or over ceased care. More information is available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml.
	The Department has commissioned the following studies on care leavers:
	Transitional Support for Care Leavers: An Evaluation of Costs and Outcomes (Jo Dixon, Jim Wade, Sarah Byford, Helen Weatherly and Jenny Lee, University of York), summary at:
	http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/_files/7%20Care%20Leavers%20summary.pdf.
	This study formed part of the Costs and Outcomes research series, and further information on the studies can be found at:
	http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/RS00026/
	Using Health, Education, Housing and Other Services: A Study of Care Leavers and Young People in Difficulty (Claire Cameron et al, Thomas Coram Research Unit), summary at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/RRP/u015171/index.shtml.
	Young People's Transitions from Care to Adulthood (Mike Stein and Emily Munro; Jessica Kingsley 2008), see
	http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book.php/isbn/9781843106104
	The Department has also supported the following study:
	Going to University from Care (Thomas Coram Research Unit in partnership with the Buttle Trust), at
	http://www.buttletrust.org/docs/gtu.pdf.

Housing: Construction

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) private,  (b) socially rented and  (c) shared ownership homes she estimates will be built in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010.

Caroline Flint: The Government do not publish forecasts for private house building.
	In 2006-07 199,200 additional homes were delivered. Housing starts in 2007-08 were 10 per cent. lower than in 2006-07 and this is likely to be reflected in lower levels of housing completions during 2008-09.
	The Housing Green Paper, Homes for the Future: more affordable, more sustainable (CM 7191), published in July 2007, announced an increase of new affordable housing to at least 70,000 per annum by 2010-11, to be delivered mainly through the Housing Corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme. Of these, 45,000 homes will be for social rent, an increase of 50 per cent. on 2007-08, with a goal to go further to 50,000 new homes for social rent in the next spending review period.

Housing: Construction

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the effect of the economic situation, with particular reference to the availability of credit on levels on house building.

Caroline Flint: The Government do not publish forecasts for private house building.

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many school enterprises have been awarded contracts under the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme to date.

John Healey: None. The Local Authority Business Growth Incentives scheme is not a scheme for the award of contracts. It is designed to give local authorities an incentive to encourage local business growth, which it does by paying a non-ringfenced grant to authorities where business growth exceeds a certain level, as measured by changes in the business rateable value base.

Local Government Finance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimates of population her Department uses when calculating the revenue support grant for each local authority.

John Healey: I announced the 2008-09 and provisional 2009-10 and 2010-11 settlements on 24 January 2008 as part of the first ever three year settlement for local government. The main measures of population used in the calculation of Formula Grant are from the 2004-based sub-national population projections that were published by the Office for National Statistics on 27 September 2007. Projections for 2008, 2009 and 2010 have been used in respective settlement calculations.
	The mid-2006 population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics on 22 August 2007 have also been used within the calculation of other indicators used in the Relative Needs Formulae.
	In all cases, we have used the best data available on a consistent basis for all authorities and available at the time of calculating the allocations.
	The full details of the indicators used for 2008-09 are shown in the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2008-09 (HC262) approved by the House on 4 February 2008.

Local Government Finance: East of England

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was allocated to each local authority in the east of England under the Growth Fund Awards for 2008-09; what factors were taken into account in determining these sums; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Details of Growth Fund allocations made to all eligible local authorities or partnerships of local authorities for 2008-09 have been deposited in the Library of the House.
	All local authorities or partnerships eligible for funding were invited to bid through the submission of a programme of development during the summer of 2007. Programmes of development are documents that set out local areas' plans and ambitions for growth, including a trajectory for housing delivery and the infrastructure needed to support it, funding already identified and the extra support needed to deliver.
	Funding decisions were based around the assessment of their programmes of development against the key criteria set out in the guidance, with key emphasis on the number of homes to be delivered to 2016 and the scale of the key infrastructure challenges at the location.

National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department has received from the National Lottery Distribution Fund in each year since 1994.

Parmjit Dhanda: We are not aware of any funding coming in to the Department from the National Lottery Distribution Fund.

Planning Permission: Geology

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures are in place to encourage local authorities to hold discussions with outside bodies on the designation of areas of known geological interest in areas affected by planning applications.

Iain Wright: Under provisions of Article 10 of the Town and Planning (Development Procedure) Order 1995, local planning authorities have a duty to consult Natural England before granting planning permission for any development that is in or likely to affect a Site of Special Scientific Interest, including those designated for their geological importance.
	More generally, Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation which sets out the Government's policies on the protection of biodiversity and geological conservation through the planning system advises that regional planning bodies should liaise with the British Geological Survey and, where appropriate, local Regionally Important Geological/geomorphological Sites groups when preparing Regional Spatial Strategies.
	The Town and Country (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (SI No. 293) require local planning authorities to give statutory consultees, non-Government organisations and other public groups, who may have an interest, the opportunity to make representations about proposed developments which are likely to have significant environmental effects. This could include effects on areas of geological interest.

Regional Planning and Development: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made on the Canvey Seafront improvements scheme; when the scheme will be concluded; what the cost of the scheme is estimated to be; and what the sources of funding for the scheme are.

Caroline Flint: The Canvey Seafront improvements scheme is a package of measures to enhance the quality of the public realm along the sea front of Canvey Island. Along with master planning other measures include the construction of public toilets, a bandstand, cycle stands, improvements to a children's paddling pool area and seating. The funding source is the Thames Gateway Programme and CLG allocated 1.5 million to the East of England Development Agency to carry out the project. The scheme is due to be completed by end of May 2008.

Regional Planning and Development: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much and what proportion of the cost of the production of a Canvey town centre master plan will be met by her Department; what the terms of reference for the production of the plan are; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Castle Point borough council has been given an indicative allocation of 2.3 million capital funding from the CLG Thames Gateway programme to take forward the regeneration of Castle Point. The borough council has earmarked around 750,000 for projects in the Canvey Island town centre. Of this CLG funding, 50,000 will be spent on masterplanning the town centre, to match a similar sum the council is seeking from other sources. It will then be for the borough council to draw up terms of reference for the master plan work. All projects will be required to undergo full appraisal.

Regional Planning and Development: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the funding allocated by her Department for the Castle Point Regeneration Partnership is planned to be spent on.

Caroline Flint: Through the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan, published in November 2007, CLG has allocated an indicative amount of 2,300,000 capital funding to Castle Point borough council to take forward the regeneration of Castle Point. Projects will focus on the Hadleigh and Canvey Island town centres and improvements to the Charfleets Industrial Estate, and will be required to undergo full appraisal. These projects are contained in the draft regeneration framework, which was prepared by the Castle Point Regeneration Partnership.

Regional Planning and Development: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with Castle Point borough council on gap funding for the Canvey Seafront improvements scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government received an expression of interest from Castle Point borough council in July 2007 for additional funding of 582,000 for the Canvey Seafront improvements scheme as part of the process of drawing up the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan for 2008-11. This was additional to a number of other expressions of interest they made for other projects. Following an evaluation of the submissions received for projects across the Gateway, an indicative allocation of 2,300,000 was made to Castle Point borough council for projects in support of the regeneration of the borough's town centres and industrial estates.

Regional Planning and Development: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what projects were completed in Castle Point constituency by the Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership in each of the last five years; and what funding was provided for the Thames Gateway in each of those years.

Caroline Flint: Two CLG funded projects have been completed in the last five years in Castle Point. These are the Canvey Seafront improvements scheme and the Canvey Wick Biodiversity Reserve. EEDA have delivered the Canvey Seafront improvements scheme and spent 390,000 in 2005-06, 106,446 in 2006-07 and 652,990 in 2007-08. The Land Restoration Trust spent 35,000 on the Canvey Wick Biodiversity Reserve project.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions Gypsy and Traveller camps have been found by courts to have breached planning regulations in each of the last three years.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department plans to spend on  (a) the provision of new Gypsy and Traveller sites and  (b) the refurbishment of existing Gypsy and Traveller sites in (i) Lancashire and (ii) England in each year between 2008 and 2012.

Iain Wright: The Department for Communities and Local Government provides Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant for the provision of new Gypsy and Traveller sites and the refurbishment of existing sites in England. 33 million is available for the Grant in 2008-09, 32 million in 2009-10, and 32 million in 2010-11, of which 2 million in each year has been allocated to the north west. The bidding round for 2008-09 closes on 31 July.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Gypsy and Traveller camps there were in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England in each of the last three years.

Iain Wright: A bi-annual count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans is undertaken by local authorities and published by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Although the count lists authorised public sites it does not list authorised private sites or unauthorised sites.
	The following table sets out the number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans counted in the last three years in both Lancashire and England.
	
		
			   Number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans 
			   Lancashire  England 
			  2005   
			 January 223 15,369 
			 July 216 15,863 
			
			  2006   
			 January 262 15,746 
			 July 220 16,367 
			
			  2007   
			 January 282 16,611 
			 July 261 17,134

Westminster City Council

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what grants were made by her Department to Westminster City Council in each of the last three years; for how much in each case; what grants will be given in 2008-09; and for how much in each case.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table shows by year and by grant programme, funds which have been made available to Westminster city council by the Department for Communities and Local Government and its predecessors.
	
		
			   million 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008- 09 (p lan)  Total 
			 Revenue Support Grant(1) 163.6 25.9 24.0 21.5 235.0 
			 National Non Domestic Rates 74.0 134.2 142.9 154.3 505.4 
			 Supporting People 17.6 17.3 17.3 17.3 69.5 
			 Housing Revenue Account Subsidy 14.6 13.4 10.3 13.8 52.1 
			 Homelessness (inc Overcrowding) 6.7 6.6 7.1 6.7 27.1 
			 Hostel capital Improvement 5.1 0.5 0.5  6.1 
			 Capacity Building 4.6 3.3 3.3  11.2 
			 Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme(2) 3.8 12.2   16.0 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 1.5 3.1   4.6 
			 Housing Planning Delivery Grant 0.8 0.7 0.5  2.0 
			 Local Government On-line 0.9 1.0 3.3  5.2 
			 Disabled Facilities Grants 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.8 
			 Performance Reward Grants 0.4 2.6 2.1  5.1 
			 Civil Resilience (temporary mortuary costs) 0.3 5.0   5.3 
			 Invest to SaveSpecial Grant 0.2 0.1   0.3 
			 Local Area Agreements(3)  1.1 10.1  11.2 
			 Area Based Grants(3)15.6 15.6 
			 Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund0.1 0.1 
			 Total 294.5 227.4 221.9 229.8 973.5 
			 (1) From 2006-07 Revenue Support Grants were reduced due to the transfer of funding to the Department for Children, Schools and Families for Dedicated School Grant. (2) On Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme, the figures provided for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are payments to date in relation to those years. (3) From 2008-09, the Area Based Grant (ABG) is replacing the old Local Area Agreements programme.

Wind Power: Planning

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1638W, on planning: wind power, what account she takes of the effects of planning advice in Scotland in formulating planning guidance for England on the siting of wind turbines; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Experience from outside England, including from Scotland, can help inform the preparation of planning guidance. The relevance and applicability to England of this wider experience will depend on a number of factors. These include geography and the similarities, or differences, in how the planning system concerned takes account of the location and landscape setting of proposed development and provides for proposals to be judged on a case-by-case basis.

Zero Carbon Delivery Unit

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the zero carbon delivery unit announced in the 2008 Budget will be established; and what funding has been allocated to it.

Caroline Flint: The 2016 task force is meeting on 5 June to discuss the detailed arrangements for establishing the zero carbon delivery unit announced in the Budget. The Government have agreed to provide pump priming funding on a match funding basis, the level of which will be dependent on the detailed business plan for the unit.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Adult Learning Grant

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department spent on the adult learning grant in each year since 2005; and how much he expects his Department to spend on the adult learning grant in each of the next three years.

David Lammy: The Adult Learning Grant (ALG) has been available throughout England since September 2007 and in its pilot phase (from 2003). The following table details the amounts which the Department has spent on ALG in the last three financial years:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 7 
			 2006-07 10.7 
			 2007-08 17.5 
		
	
	The Department has a budget of 32 million for ALG for each of the next three financial years (2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11), which will be allocated in line with applications from adults supported by ongoing marketing of the scheme.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much has been allocated from public funds for research into the biomedical causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis/encephalopathy in 2008-09; what proportion of Government spending on research into the condition this sum represents; how much has been allocated for research into psychological conditions in 2008-09; and how many clinical co-ordinating centres serving patients with psychological disorders have  (a) closed and  (b) had a reduction in public funding since 2003.

Ian Pearson: The Medical Research Council is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a strategic priority area for the MRC and the Council is continuing to promote research in this area. The MRC does not have set budgets for specific illnesses and research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The MRC welcomes applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.
	The MRC currently supports a number of studies in CFS/ME, as follows:
	Professor K. Bhui, Queen Mary and Westfield College: Chronic fatigue and ethnicity (162,000)
	Dr. C. Clark, Centre for Psychiatry, Barts and the London School of Medicine: General and specific risk markers and preventive factors for chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndromes (funding approved in November 2007 367,000)
	Professor A. J. Weardon et al, University of Manchester: Randomised controlled trial of nurse-led self-help treatment for primary care patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (743,000)
	Professor P. D. White et al, Queen Mary and Westfield College: The PACE Trial: A RCT of CBT, graded exercise, adaptive pacing and usual medical care for the chronic fatigue syndrome (2.07 million)
	The Department of Health does not allocate funding specifically for psychological centres. Primary care trusts (PCTs) have the responsibility for providing funding for health and social care services to meet the needs of their local population from their general funding allocation. Information on the number of psychological centres is not collected centrally.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the amount and proportion of his Department's budget which is not devolved to non-departmental public bodies by main budget heading.

David Lammy: The proportion of the Department's net budget (including planned receipts) that is not devolved to non-departmental public bodies is -4.47 billion which is -25.02 per cent. of the overall Department voted supply estimate for 2007-08 of 17.9 billion.
	This includes a receipt from DCSF of 7.165 billion. If this figure is excluded from the calculation, 2.69 billion is spent centrally, which is 15.03 per cent. of the overall Department voted estimate for 2007-08 of 17.9 billion. A full breakdown of the budget headings that comprise figure can be found in the DIUS Spring Supplementary Estimate published March 2008:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./documents/public_spending_ reporting/estimates/psr_estimates_main08-09.cfm.
	Please note that these are budgeted figures not the final out-turn which is yet to be finalised for the year-end accounts.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2008,  Official Report, column 394W, on departmental public participation, what steps  (a) have been taken and (b) are planned as a result of the findings of each (i) survey, (ii) questionnaire and (iii) other service carried out in 2007-08.

David Lammy: holding answer 5 June 2008
	 The information is as follows.
	 HSE student support England 2007-08:
	The annual Student Finance Customer Satisfaction Survey measures satisfaction with the end to end process of applying for financial help for those going into higher education, and provides year on year comparisons of the service. The aim of the research is to test customer views of the level and quality of service they have received, rather than their views on the Government's student support policy.
	Feedback from the survey influences the future development of student finance services, including provision of information and operational processes involved in applying for student support. The results of each year's survey are made public and published via the DIUS website (previously via the DFES website).
	 All other student finance research:
	The research on student finance was carried out to help define and articulate messages on student finance for parents. In 2007 the Government introduced a greatly enhanced package of financial help for people going into higher education. We have a duty to make the public aware of these rights and entitlements. We therefore needed the messages to resonate with the parent audience so that the information could be conveyed in the most engaging way possible so that informed choices and decisions can be made.
	These messages were then used whenever promotional or PR activity was used to communicate student finance messages to parents.
	As a result of using the most engaging messages to ensure the information was conveyed to our audience the following key success indicators were achieved.
	80 per cent. of parents now believe that there is financial support available to students.
	There has been a significant shift (from 21 per cent. to 36 per cent.) in prompted awareness among students that they can still get a grant if their parents earn up to 60,000.
	Awareness of the increased threshold among parents increased to 40 per cent. during the promotional and PR activity of the enhanced student finance package.
	General awareness of grants among parents has steadily increased since 2006, up from 21 per cent. to 43 per cent.
	Finance is seen as an important influence for nearly two-thirds of parents.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills for what proportion of its staff his Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

David Lammy: The Department was formed as a result of Machinery of Government changes in June 2007. The Department's people information is maintained on the HR management systems of the two Departments from which staff were transferred, namely BERR and DCSF. Neither of these Departments hold information on vocational training in the form requested centrally and this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Doctors: Training

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of students undertaking medical education with a view to qualification as a doctor under the Widening Participation Scheme who are from  (a) white British and  (b) black Caribbean backgrounds in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: Ethnicity figures for all medical students in England are shown in table 1. Several medical schools run schemes to encourage applications from bright students from disadvantaged or non-traditional backgrounds. Data on admissions through these schemes are not collected centrally, but a recent article in the  British Medical Journal highlighted the success of the Extended Medical Degree Programme run by King's College London. Ethnicity figures for students on this programme are shown in table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK domiciled medical( 1)  enrolments by ethnicity English higher edu cation institutions 2006/07 academic year 
			  Ethnicity  Number  Proportion( 2)  (percentage) 
			 WhiteBritish 21,785 61.3 
			 Black or black BritishCaribbean 180 0.5 
			 Black or black BritishAfrican 955 2.7 
			 Other ethnicities 12,595 35.5 
			 Total with known ethnicity 35,515 100.0 
			 Information refused 1,315 3.5 
			 Not known/missing 1,055 2.8 
			 Total 37,880 100.0 
			 (1) Medical includes students enrolled on the principal subjects Pre-Clinical Medicine and Clinical Medicine only. (2) Ethnicity proportions are calculated using the total with known ethnicity. Information refused and not known/missing proportions are calculated using the overall total.  Note: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population basis and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Ethnic origin of King's College London EMDP students 2002-06 
			   Percentage 
			 White British 7 
			 Black African 35 
			 Black Caribbean 1

Equality

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will take steps to establish a strategy to tackle age discrimination and promote age equality in the provision of goods and services  (a) by the Department and  (b) within the sectors for which he has policy responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Government are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all learners, and that learning serves the needs of the whole community, including older people both within and outside the work force. Our strategy for World Class Skills and our reforms of wider adult learning are designed to ensure that everyone, whatever their age or background, has the opportunity to improve their skills, prospects and quality of life. We will continue to work closely with our ministerial colleagues to respond to the consultation on the Equality BillA Framework for Fairnessto ensure that everyone, in every community, can lead healthy and fulfilling lives by participating fully in work, education and society as a whole.
	Protection from discrimination on the grounds of age was introduced in the area of employment and vocational training through the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006. The Regulations mean that further education and training providers are not allowed to set age limits for access to training unless they can show objective justification why there is a real need to apply such limits. The Government have decided that all courses at Further Education and Higher Education institutions are covered by the age regulations, whether they are specifically vocational or more general in nature. This ensures that there is a unified and consistent approach to age-related practices and policies in relation to all such provision.
	I must stress that the Regulations do not bar providers from offering age-related fee discounts. Many colleges and other providers have longstanding, formal, informal and discretionary arrangements based on age when deciding eligibility for fee concessions. These are entirely at the discretion and cost of individual providers. I refer the hon. Member to the written statement by my hon. Friend the Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, which said:
	Guidance on the vocational training aspects of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations is available on the DTI website. It is aimed at, amongst others, providers of further and adult education. The guidance makes it clear that age related practices, such as age related fee concessions, may be objectively justified where they are a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. It is for providers to produce evidence of such objective justification if called upon to do so, or to take their own legal advice if necessary. Guidance on objective justification is also available on page 30 of the ACAS guidance on the Age Regulations. [ Official Report, 16 May 2007, col. 35WS.]

Higher Education: Admissions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people resident in England were accepted by a university in  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) 2006-07, broken down by (i) age band, (ii) sex and (iii) county of residence.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The latest available information, showing the number of full-time undergraduate entrants by their local authority of domicile is given in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries.

Higher Education: Admissions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Government plans to take to increase numbers of young people going to university.

Bill Rammell: Our January 2008 grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England provided sufficient funding for recruitment by 2011 of 60,000 new students. This increase builds on our consistent track record of growing student numbers to record levels. But we are not simply concerned with recruiting younger students. Our development of new models for the funding and design of higher education (HE) courses will also enable us to grow the number of mature students entering HE part-time.
	As part of this strategy for growth, we have asked the Funding Council over the next six years to support 20 new HE centres with around 10,000 student places, under our new University Challenge initiative. This will allow more students to gain access to HE locally. We are also committed to a steep increase in the number of people studying for foundation degrees. Our ambition to provide 100,000 foundation degree enrolments by 2010 will support young people and adults in employment to develop higher level work-related skills.
	We believe that there will be demand for the new places we are creating. Improvements to the student support package for full-time students in England announced last July will further encourage more young people to go to university. For young people, we know that the best way to increase participation in HE is to raise level 2 achievement in schools at age 16 with an increase in young people attaining five GCSEs at grades A* to C to 62 per cent. from 37 per cent. in 1997. New study options for young people at age 14, the Aimhigher Programme and HE institutions' own outreach activity working directly with schools all help to raise aspirations and achievement across the board.

Higher Education: Admissions

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of  (a) state school and  (b) private school students in (i) the UK, (ii) Leeds Metropolitan District and (iii) Leeds, West constituency were admitted to higher education in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: It is not possible to answer the question as it is posed. However, the following information is what is currently available.
	The proportion of young entrants to full-time first degree courses in the UK, who had previously attended a state school or college is shown in table 1. All schools or colleges that are not denoted 'independent' are assumed to be state schools. This means that students from sixth form or further education colleges, for example, are included as being from state schools. Information specifically on the percentage of private school students admitted to higher education is not available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion of young entrants to full-time first degree courses, who had previously attended a state school or college, UK higher education institutions, academic years 1997/98 to 2006/07 
			   Percentage 
			 1997/98 81.8 
			 1998/99 85.0 
			 1999/2000 84.9 
			 2000/01 85.7 
			 2001/02 86.0 
			 2002/03 87.2 
			 2003/04 86.8 
			 2004/05 86.7 
			 2005/06 87.4 
			 2006/07 87.8 
			  Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	HEFCE's Young participation in Higher Education publication includes the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency, although this only covers the years up to 2000 and is not available by school type. Participation rates based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website at:
	www.hefce.ac.uk/polar
	The proportion of young people from Leeds, West constituency and from England, who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 is shown in table 2. Figures are shown under the year in which the cohort turned 18. Figures for Leeds metropolitan district are not available.
	
		
			  Table 2: Proportion of young people who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 
			  Percentage 
			   Leeds, West constituency entering HE aged 18 or 19  England entering HE aged 18 or 19 
			 1997 13 29 
			 1998 14 29 
			 1999 14 29 
			 2000 13 30

Higher Education: Medicine

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of students entering medical education for training leading to qualification as a doctor were from an ethnic minority background in each of the last five years; and what proportion of students entered medical education leading to qualification as a doctor under the extended medical degree programme and other widening participation schemes in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 2 June 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 12 June in response to his question PQ 207688.
	Table 1 shows the ethnicity of entrants to medical courses over the last five years.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK Domiciled medical( 1)  entrants by ethnicityEnglish higher education institutions, academic years 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Academic year  White background  Ethnic minority background  Total with known ethnicity 
			   N umber ( 2) Proportion %  N umber ( 2) Proportion %  N umber ( 2) Proportion % 
			 2002-03 5,030 69.2 2,235 30.8 7,265 100.0 
			 2003-04 5,555 69.8 2,405 30.2 7,960 100.0 
			 2004-05 5,790 69.0 2,605 31.0 8,395 100.0 
			 2005-06 5,945 67.8 2,830 32.2 8,775 100.0 
			 2006-07 6,095 67.5 2,940 32.5 9,040 100.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Academic year  Information refused  Not known/ missing  Total 
			   N umber ( 2) Proportion %  N umber ( 2) Proportion %  N umber ( 2) Proportion % 
			 2002-03 685 8.2 370 4.4 8,320 100.0 
			 2003-04 605 6.7 450 5.0 9,075 100.0 
			 2004-05 400 4.4 435 4.7 9,230 100.0 
			 2005-06 465 4.9 345 3.6 9,590 100.0 
			 2006-07 465 4.8 230 2.3 9,730 100.0 
			 (1)Medical includes students enrolled on the principal subjects Pre-Clinical Medicine and Clinical Medicine only.  (2)Ethnicity proportions are calculated using the total with known ethnicity. Information refused and not known/missing proportions are calculated using the overall total.   Notes:  Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population basis and have been rounded to the nearest five.   Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.

Science: Training

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent steps the Government has taken to increase skills levels in science and engineering industries.

David Lammy: holding answer 5 June 2008
	The Government are committed both to increasing the number of people studying science, technology, engineering and maths at all levels, and to working with the science and engineering industries to improve skill levels in those industries. My Department works closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), and funds STEMNETthe Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Networkto raise awareness of these subjects and engagement among young people. This includes support for the science and engineering ambassadors scheme which has already enabled over 18,000 specialists to work directly with schools and colleges, offering mentoring, career guidance and positive role models. We recently announced that STEMNET would work towards having 27,000 ambassadors in place by 2011.
	On 28 May the Secretary of State announced the first Train to Gain sector compact. This is a partnership between Semta (the Sector Skills Council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies), the Learning and Skills Council and my Department to drive up employer demand for skills in the science and engineering industries over the next three years. 65 million has been earmarked from the Train to Gain budget for this compact.
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is providing 75 million additional funding from 2007/08 over three years for high cost strategic science subjects at undergraduate level, including chemistry, physics and chemical engineering.
	HEFCE are also funding the National Engineering Programme (NEP), of which the London Engineering project is the first phase. After creating a successful working model with the London pilot project, the programme will extend to six other cities in England. Managed by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the programme aims to change the face of UK higher education in engineering, by widening participation and strengthening engineering as a strategic subject.
	Together with DCSF we have put in place a structurea High Level STEM strategy groupreporting both to DCSF and DIUS Ministers. This will ensure, across all phases of education, a joined-up approach to initiatives designed to support improvements in the teaching of science as well as those aimed at encouraging young people to take science subjects.

Sixth Form Colleges: Governing Bodies

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department has issued guidance on whether the chair of the corporation of a sixth form college may also be a governor of the college.

Bill Rammell: The Instrument and Articles of Government for Further Education Corporations, which provide for the constitution and conduct of all colleges, require the members of the Corporation to appoint a Chair from within the governing body (section 6 of the Instrument refers). An individual may be a governor at more than one college. However, the Instrument and Articles of Government require every member of the governing body to act in the best interests of the Corporation.

Teachers: Sign Language

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will provide funding for models for the training of British Sign Language teaching in addition to Lifelong Learning UK courses.

Bill Rammell: The Department has no current plans to fund development of British Sign Language (BSL) training. There are existing Higher Education Funding Council for England and Learning and Skills Council public funding streams, through which providers can apply for funds for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses.
	Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) has developed a qualifications framework and guidance for the sector workforce, but course design is the responsibility of the awarding institution or sometimes the delivery centre. Importantly, providers of teacher training for the FE sector are independent organisations with the freedom and ability to develop courses which they feel meet sector business needs, including teacher training courses contextualised for BSL.
	LLUK requirements do not prevent ITT course providers from meeting the needs of BSL teacher trainees. There are many examples of contextualised ITT courses for particular groups of trainees, such as performing arts or lip reading.

Vocational Education

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many national vocational qualifications were studied for outside an apprenticeship framework in each year since 2000.

David Lammy: Such information as is available is included in the following table, which shows the total number of LSC funded learners who studied for NVQs outside apprenticeships frameworks in post-16 education from 2002/03 to 2006/07. Figures for other years are not available.
	
		
			   2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			 Further Education 318,840 323,910 329,340 343,450 344,190 
			 Work Based Learning (NVQ training only) 84,460 54,100 30,070 11,870 4,290 
			 Adult Safeguarded Learning n/a n/a n/a 100 40 
			 Train to Gain (1) (1) (1) 26,750 166,010 
			 Total 403,290 378,010 359,410 382,170 514,530 
			 n/a = Not available (1) Not applicable  Notes: 1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10; totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Figures represent the total volume of NVQ learners in an academic year A single episode of learning may be counted in more than one year. 3. Train to Gain started in 2005/06, with full rollout in 2006/07. Due to data limitations for 2005/06 this figure has been estimated using the ratio of NVQs to total learners in 2006/07 (approximately 98 per cent.).  Source: Individualised Learner Record

Vocational Training

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Government have taken to prevent future skills shortages.

David Lammy: The Government have taken a wide range of action to support employers in securing the skills their businesses need to thrive both now and in the future. Our White Paper 'World Class Skills' was published last summer. It set out how we will shape the skills system around the needs of customersemployers and learnersto meet the challenge of competing in the global economy. Since then we have pressed ahead with making the skills system more demand led. This includes improving and expanding Train to Gain to help employers identify and address their skills needs. Since national roll-out began from April 2006, Train to Gain has engaged nearly 90,000 employers, enabled over 450,000 employees to begin learning programmes, and over 210,000 to gain new qualifications. We are working with Sector Skills Councils to develop sector compacts, earmarking Train to Gain funds specifically to support the skills those sectors need. Funding for the Apprenticeship programme is being increased, and the programme reformed, so that more employers and employees benefit from high-quality work-based training. National Skills Academies have now been approved in nine sectors.
	On higher skills, our recent consultation paper 'Higher Education at Work' has launched a national debate on what more needs to be done to meet the need for moreand more employablegraduates, and raise the skills of those already in the work force.
	A key aim in taking all these actions is that employers and the skills system get better at responding to future strategic challenges and opportunitiessuch as a low carbon economy, renewable energy, and the Olympicsfocussing on the medium and long term as well as on immediate skills needs.
	Over the next three years we will be investing 2.3 billion on the modernisation and renewal of the Further Education estate, supporting investment in specialist new facilities in colleges and training providers, to build the capacity needed to meet our skills priorities.
	We are also taking action to make sure the employment and skills system is much better joined up. In April the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills started work. We are publishing today new proposals for more integrated employment and skills services that are more responsive to the needs of individuals and employers, with plans to ensure that delivery systems work more closely together, driven by those who know best how to shape services to meet local needs.

Vocational Training: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how much is planned to be spent on Train to Gain in each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11; and how much has been allocated to  (a) skills brokers,  (b) wage compensation,  (c) adult basic skills,  (d) adult first full Level 2 and adult second full Level 2,  (e) adult first non-Level 2 and adult second non-Level 2,  (f) adult first full Level 3 and adult second full Level 3,  (g) adult first non-Level 3 and adult second non-Level 3 and  (h) higher education Level 4 provision in each year;
	(2)  how much was spent within Train to Gain on  (a) private employers,  (b) public employers, in each sector and  (c) voluntary employers in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08;
	(3)  how much is expected to be spent within Train to Gain on  (a) 16 to 19 year olds and  (b) people aged 19 years and older from 2007-08 to 2010-11;
	(4)  how much is expected to be spent within Train to Gain on  (a) volunteers,  (b) the self-employed,  (c) employees,  (d) full-time employees and  (e) part-time employees in each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11.

David Lammy: Since it was rolled out nationally from April 2006, Train to Gain has grown quickly. It has now engaged over 92,000 employers, supported nearly 455,000 employees to begin learning programmes, and delivered 186,720 full level 2 and 23,480 Skills for Life achievements. Recent evaluations of the service show that both employer and employee satisfaction with their experience of Train to Gain is high.
	Since January 2008 both volunteers and the self-employed have been able to access high quality vocational skills training through Train to Gain. In a demand-led service like Train to Gain, the distribution of learners between different sectors, types of employees, volunteers, and the self-employed is driven by employer demand for and take up of the service. Recently completed evaluations show that a wide spread of industry sectors are accessing the service. We will continue to monitor that distribution through ongoing evaluation.
	Government are investing more than 26 billion for 16 to 19-year-olds to participate in learning over the period 2007-08 to 2010-11. The Train to Gain service funds training for people aged 19 years and above. A breakdown of planned Train to Gain spend, by level, for the period 2007-08 to 2010-11 is set out in table 1. A breakdown of actual spend for 2007-08 will be available shortly, and I would be happy to share that with the hon. Member.
	
		
			  Table 1: Planned Train to Gain spend, 2007-08 to 2010-11 
			   million 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Skills for Life 31 35 40 45 
			 Full level 2 447 526 620 640 
			 Full level 3 40 94 117 338 
			 Developmental learning 2 1 0 0 
			 Total 520 656 777 1,023 
		
	
	We have not to date funded 'second' level 2 or 3 qualifications within Train to Gain. As we agree new 'compacts' to ensure that the Train to Gain offer meets the particular needs of each key sector in the economy, we will identify those qualifications that are priorities for each sector, and offer some increased flexibility on funding for those qualifications.
	Skills brokers work with employers to consider their skills needs at all levels, including level 4 and above where appropriate. We are currently working with the higher education sector to test how best we can offer an all-levels service through Train to Gain, through for example, the Higher Level Skills Pathfinders operating in three regions (NW, NE and SW).
	Wage compensation will continue to be available over the period to 2010-11 for SMEs with fewer than 50 employees. Spend will be determined by employer take-up.
	From April 2009, the Train to Gain brokerage offer will be integrated with the wider business support available through Business Link, and DIUS currently expects to invest 37 million in each of 2009-10 and 2010-11 to support delivery of that service.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the 2007 Abortion Statistics will be published; if he will place copies in  (a) the Vote Office and  (b) the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The 'Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2007' will be published on 19 June 2008. Copies will be placed in the Library and will be made available in the Vote Office.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis was for the statements made by the Minister for Public Health on 20 May 2008,  Official Report, column 246, that a reduction in the current limit for abortion would  (a) force women to give birth to unwanted children and  (b) lead to women travelling abroad and seeking abortions elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Every Member of the House spoke and voted in accordance with their conscious. It is a matter for each Member to decide the case they wished to advance.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many discharges there were from hospitals after septic abortions in each year since 1990.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Sepsis as a complication of abortion, up to time of discharge from place of termination, residents England and Wales, 1990 to 2006 
			   Sepsis up to time of discharge  Total complications up to time of discharge 
			 1990 48 671 
			 1991 63 656 
			 1992 55 727 
			 1993 44 649 
			 1994 77 738 
			 1995 66 659 
			 1996 57 515 
			 1997 62 490 
			 1998 34 382 
			 1999 35 420 
			 2000 62 454 
			 2001 65 373 
			 2002 51 473 
			 2003 15 503 
			 2004 11 384 
			 2005 14 319 
			 2006 21 368

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department  (a) has commissioned,  (b) plans to commission and  (c) has evaluated on the number of children who were born alive following an attempted abortion; when his Department last undertook a review of the number of children who were born alive following an attempted abortion that took into account (i) UK and (ii) international research; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) collects data on all perinatal deaths (which includes the extremely small number of cases following abortion) and conducts confidential inquiries and other in-depth analyses of defined subsets. From this, CEMACH identifies key findings and makes recommendations as appropriate. As there is ongoing monitoring in this area, the Department has no plans to commission any further work.
	The British Medical Association, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) have all issued guidance to clinicians on this sensitive issue. Ultimately, the management of these cases rests with the clinical team involved, taking into account all the relevant factors and circumstances. BAPM is currently updating its guidance on this issue.

Avian Influenza

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the likelihood of a global pandemic of avian influenza; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what contingency plans his Department has to deal with a pandemic of avian influenza;
	(3)  what work his Department is undertaking  (a) with EU partners and  (b) through the World Health Organisation to tackle the problem of avian influenza and H5N1.

Dawn Primarolo: There were three influenza pandemics in the last century. It is highly likely that another influenza pandemic will occur at some time, although it is impossible to forecast its exact timing or the precise nature of its impact.
	In order to ensure the United Kingdom is as prepared as possible, a number of exercises have been run to test our level of preparedness and last November we published the National framework for responding to an influenza pandemic. This sets out the Governments overall strategy in preparing for, and responding to, an influenza pandemic. Copies of this publication are available in the Library.
	The Department regularly attends international conferences, meetings and workshops, hosted by the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at sharing information and exchanging ideas about pandemic influenza preparedness planning.
	The UK is a member of the EU Health Security Committee which has a programme of work on pandemic influenza; we are also actively involved in the review of the WHO pandemic planning guidance and indicator work. Departmental officials are working with countries and the WHO to establish a more transparent WHO system for sharing influenza viruses and helping ensure more equitable access to benefits. We are also working with the upcoming French presidency to help plan a technical meeting on pandemic influenza and an informal ministerial meeting on health security threats, and are working with the G7 countries and Mexico on border and associated issues.

Biological Weapons

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans his Department has to deal with a  (a) chemical and  (b) biological attack on the UK; what stockpiles of vaccines there are to protect people against each chemical or biological agent; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: All national health service organisations, classed as Category 1 and 2 responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA 2004), have contingency plans in place to meet their responsibilities to ensure the continued delivery of healthcare services when faced with a wide range of disruptive challenges, including incidents involving the use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents.
	The Department supports all health service organisations in their contingency planning through the provision of extensive specialist and generic guidance and a national programme of training and exercises designed to test plans and familiarise health service staff with their respective roles and responsibilities during an incident.
	The United Kingdom Health Departments have established an extensive stockpile of medical countermeasures and specialist equipment to be used to protect and treat the public in the event of a wide range of possible incidents or attacks. For obvious reasons of security, it would be inappropriate to specify what particular countermeasures are held and where they are located.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of carbon monoxide poisoning were treated by the NHS in the last five years for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The Information Centre for health and social care does not hold complete data on the number of cases of carbon monoxide poisoning that were treated by the national health service in the last five years for which figures are available.
	It does hold data on the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs), which indicate the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. These admissions do not represent the number of in-patients as a person may have more than one admission within the same year.
	The total number of FAEs for the last five years relating to NHS hospitals in England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by English NHS, in which the patient had a primary diagnosis of 'T58 Toxic effect of carbon monoxide' at the start of his or her stay are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  1 April to 31 March each year  Number of FAEs 
			 2006-07 457 
			 2005-06 415 
			 2004-05 397 
			 2003-04 464 
			 2002-03 470

Care Homes: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) nursing and  (b) residential care homes there were in (i) the Dacorum borough council area and (ii) Hemel Hempstead constituency in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 10 June 2008
	Information on the numbers of residential and nursing care homes in the Dacorum borough council and Hemel Hempstead constituency areas is not held separately. Information is only available for the Hertfordshire council area.
	Until 2001, information on the numbers of care and nursing homes was collected by the Department. From 2002, the information was collected by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) and later by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), which took over responsibility for regulating care services from NCSC in April 2004.
	Table 1 shows the number of residential and nursing care homes in the Hertfordshire council area from 1997 to 2001.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of care homes in Hertfordshire Council area from 1997 to 2001 by type of accommodation 
			  Year( 1)  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001 
			 Residential homes 260 255 260 290 (3)n/a 
			 Nursing homes(2) 70 75 80 75 (3)n/a 
			 (1) As at 31 March for each year. (2) Figures for nursing homes are aggregated from East and North Hertfordshire and West Hertfordshire Health Authorities. (3) Data not supplied by Hertfordshire Council for 2001.  Source: Department of Health 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the numbers of services registered with NCSC and CSCI in the Hertfordshire council area from 2003 to 2008. The NCSC began work on 1 April 2002. During the first months of NCSC's existence, there was a delay in registering some care homes, so complete information is not held for 2002.
	
		
			  Care homes registered in Hertfordshire council area from 2003 to 2008( 1) 
			   Number 
			  2003  
			 Residential care homes 230 
			 Care homes with nursing 52 
			 Total 282 
			   
			  2004  
			 Residential care homes 224 
			 Care homes with nursing 52 
			 Total 276 
			   
			  2005  
			 Residential care homes 229 
			 Care homes with nursing 54 
			 Total 283 
			   
			  2006  
			 Residential care homes 234 
			 Care homes with nursing 56 
			 Total 290 
			   
			  2007  
			 Residential care homes 237 
			 Care homes with nursing 56 
			 Total 293 
			   
			  2008  
			 Residential care homes 235 
			 Care homes with nursing 54 
			 Non-medical care homes 1 
			 Total 290 
			 (1) As at 31 March for each year.  Source: Department of Health

Carers

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of people cared for at home by relatives; and if he will estimate the cost to the public purse if those people were being cared for entirely by the NHS and local authorities.

Ivan Lewis: The 2001 Census was the first time information on the numbers of carers was available on the basis of a detailed count. The 2001 Census indicates that there are some 6 million people providing unpaid care in the United Kingdom. However, this figure does not necessarily reflect the number of individuals being cared for, as there is not a one to one ratio of carers to care-recipients.
	The Department has made no estimate of the cost to the public purse if those people being cared for by relatives were cared for by the NHS and local authorities.
	The contribution carers make is recognised in law and the policies of local and central Government.

Chicken: Chlorine

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had at an EU level on the sale of chlorine-treated chicken for human consumption.

Dawn Primarolo: Although this issue falls within the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) area of responsibility, the FSA has made no representations to the European Union (EU) on the sale of chicken treated with chlorine intended for human consumption. Such processing aid treatments are not permitted in the EU or on chicken exported to the EU market.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 148 of his Department's Annual Report 2008, if he will provide a breakdown of the 800 million to be spent on arm's length bodies in 2008-09, broken down by body.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Disposition of national health services resources 2008-09 
			   million 
			  Arm's  length bodies  Near cash  Non cash  Total 
			 Healthcare Commission 56.4858 2.8 59.286 
			 Mental Health Act Commission 5.0939 0.119 5.213 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant 56.62265 36.199 92.822 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 2.24105 0.351 2.592 
			 Human Tissue Authority 1.1343 0.378 1.512 
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence 1.8525 0.179 2.032 
			 General Social Care Council 0.00015 2.158 2.158 
			 Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board 2.27525 0.995 3.270 
			 Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency 10.50415  10.504 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 34.098696 0.5 34.599 
			 National Patient Safety Agency 27.59845 1.157 28.755 
			 Health Protection Agency 140.0852 17.247 157.332 
			 National Institute for Biological Standards and Control 11.7173 6.184 17.901 
			 National Treatment Agency 0.5188 0.225 0.744 
			 Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health 0  0.000 
			 NHS Litigation Authority 2.41015  2.410 
			 NHS Appointments Commission 3.29745 0.03 3.327 
			 NHS Information Centre 33.14075 1.294 34.435 
			 NHS Business Services Authority 136.7335 13.041 149.775 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Authority 28.4077 0.108 28.516 
			 NHS Institute 77.81925 0.681 78.500 
			 Commission for Social Care and Inspection  14.8 14.800 
			 NHS Professionals 7.22 1.295 8.515 
			 Transition Costs 23.92175 0.6 24.522 
			 Departmental residual liabilities 3  3.000 
			 Departmental transfer to Office of Standards in Education 3.74145  3.741 
			 Total 669.9202 100.341 770.2612 
			  Notes:  1. Non cash relates to capital charges, depreciation and other non cash items.  2. These figures are indicative and may change during 2008-09.  3. NHS Litigation Authority clinical negligence resources of 1.2 billion excluded from this table and are shown separately on page 148 of the Department's Annual Report.  4. In 2008-09 General Social Care Council funding, in the report, is shown as being funded from the social services budget rather than from central health budgets, so no funding is shown against central health budgets for that year.  5. In 2008-09 the majority of National Treatment Authority's funding, in the report, is being shown as coming from the drug misuse budget with only a small element shown against 2008-09 central health budgets. In 2007-08 the total funding is shown against the central health budgets.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 160 of his Department's Annual Report 2008, if he will provide a breakdown of the arm's length bodies' budgets in figures 9.18 and 9.19 for each financial year.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Centrally managed national health service budgets (Table 9.18) 
			   million 
			  Arm's length bodies (ALBs)  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Healthcare Commission 59.564 56.486 
			 Mental Health Act Commission 5.413 5.213 
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence 1.950 1.853 
			 Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board 2.395 2.275 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 32.819 34.599 
			 National Patient Safety Agency 29.051 28.755 
			 National Treatment Agency 11.854 0.744 
			 Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health 18.101 0.000 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant 50.466 56.623 
			 Health Protection Agency 1.026 0.000 
			 NHS Litigation Authority Administration 2.537 2.410 
			 NHS Litigation Authority 754.862 1,185.009 
			 NHS Appointments Commission 3.471 3.297 
			 Information Centre for health and social care 37.224 33.141 
			 NHS Business Services Authority 150.668 149.775 
			 NHS Institute 91.240 77.819 
			 NHS Professionals 7.600 7.901 
			 Transition cost offset -53.947 -41.658 
			 Departmental residual costs 1.200 3.000 
			 Total 1,207.494 1,607.240 
		
	
	
		
			  Central health and miscellaneous services budget 
			   million 
			  Arm's length bodies (ALBs)  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 2.359 2.241 
			 Human Tissue Authority 1.194 1.134 
			 General Social Care Council 9.437 0.000 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Authority 7.486 28.408 
			 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 11.057 10.504 
			 Health Protection Agency 146.516 140.085 
			 National Institute for Biological Standards and Control 12.334 11.717 
			 Commission for Social Care and Inspection 54.385 63.350 
			 DH transfer to Ofsted 16.991 3.741 
			 Transition costs 53.244 67.582 
			 Total 315.003 328.7625 
			
			 Total Tables 1,522.497 1,936.003 
			  Notes:  1. At the time of providing these figures, for the Departmental Report, 2007-08 allocations were still being adjusted and 2008-09 indicative budgets were being issued. The final budgets/allocations for all ALBs may therefore be different.  2. The NHS Purchasing and Supplies Authority is part funded from Department's administration budgets. In 2007-08 the administration funding is not included under the central health budgets line of the Report. The 2008-09 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Authority figure does include the administration funding.  3. In 2008-09 the general and social care council funding, in the report, is shown as being funded from the social services budget rather than from central health budgets, so no funding is shown against central health budgets for that year.  4. In 2008-09 the majority of the National Treatment Agency's funding, in the report, is being shown as coming from the drug misuse budget with only a small element shown against 2008-09 central health budgets. 5. The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health is closing down in 2008-09.

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the policy of British jobs for British workers will affect his Department's recruitment policy.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) on 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2207WS.

Disease Control: Prisons

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to conduct an anonymous blood-borne virus serosurvey in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has no plans to conduct an anonymous blood-borne virus serosurvey in prisons at this time.
	The prevalence of infection with blood-borne viruses (BBVs) in ex- and current injecting drug users in the community is currently used as a proxy for infection rates in prisons. This method is sufficiently robust to ascertain the scope and scale of the problem we face in relation to BBV infection in prisoners.

Drugs: Misuse

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions to  (a) Southend hospital and  (b) Basildon hospital that were (i) primarily related to drug misuse and (ii) where drug misuse was a secondary factor there have been in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Food: Salt

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings  (a) his Department and  (b) the Food Standards Agency have held with Consensus Action on Salt and Health in the last two years to discuss dietary salt intake; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: To aid the joint Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Department's goal to reduce average population salt intakes to no more than six grams a day, the FSA has met with Consensus Action on Salt and Health between June 2006-June 2008 to discuss a range of issues including dietary salt.

Food: Salt

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to meet representatives of the salt industry to discuss salt levels in food.

Dawn Primarolo: Ministers currently do not have any plans to meet representatives of the salt industry to discuss salt levels in food.

General Practitioners: Nurses

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days a week on average GP surgeries have a practice nurse on site; how many GP surgeries which formerly had practice nurses on site have ceased to have in the last two years; and what proportion of the NHS budget for GP surgeries is ring-fenced for employing practice nurses.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not held centrally. However, we do collect data on the numbers of practice nurses in England, which has shown a steady increase in numbers since 1997headcount of 4,471 (24 per cent.); and full time equivalent of 4,472 (44 per cent.)as set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Headcount  Full-time equivalent 
			 1997 18,389 10,082 
			 1998 18,894 10,359 
			 1999 19,495 10,689 
			 2000 19,200 10,711 
			 2001 19,846 11,163 
			 2002 20,983 11,998 
			 2003 21,667 12,967 
			 2004 22,144 13,563 
			 2005 22,904 13,793 
			 2006(1) 23,797 14,616 
			 2007 22,860 14,554 
			  Notes: 1. More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted 9,858 duplicate records being identified and removed from the non-medical census. (These 9,858 duplicate records, broken down by main staff group, are: 3,370 qualified nurses; 1,818 qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff; 2,719 support to doctors and nurses; 1,562 national health service infrastructure support; and 389 in other areas.) 2. The impact of duplicates on FTE has been minimal with the removal of 507. 3. Funding is not ring-fenced for practice nurses.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Hepatitis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department gave to World Hepatitis Day on 19 May 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: As part of its ongoing hepatitis C awareness campaign, FaCe It, the Department specifically funded a series of activities to coincide with World Hepatitis Day, including:
	a touring exhibition of photographic portraits of people with hepatitis C which visited three towns in LondonCroydon, Camden and Stratford;
	a day of radio interviews with Beach Boy, David Marks, who has had hepatitis C and media doctor/television presenter, Dr. Mark Porter; and
	promotion of press and radio features about case studies of real patients affected by hepatitis C, who work with the FaCe It campaign.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State offered a message of support for World Hepatitis Day.

HIV Infection

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of HIV and AIDS have been diagnosed  (a) in the last 30 years and  (b) in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Reporting HIV and AIDS diagnoses in the United Kingdom 
			  First diagnosis  30 years  12 months 
			 HIV 93,231 6,840(1) 
			 AIDS 23,596 750(1) 
			 (1). Data adjusted for reporting delay using statistical methods applied to data to the end of December 2007.   Notes:  1. Surveillance for AIDS started in 1982, for HIV in 1984.  2. Figures will include some records of the same individuals, which are unmatched because of difference in the information supplied.  3. Numbers for recent years may rise as further reports are received.  4. Data will include many individuals who have been infected with HIV outside the UK, but who have been subsequently diagnosed in the UK.   Source:  Health Protection Agency.

Homeopathy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on homeopathic treatments remaining available on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: It is Government policy that all decisions on what services/treatments to commission and fund are the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs). Most PCTs will have their own policy on the commissioning and funding of complementary and alternative medicine (including homoeopathy). Safety, clinical and cost-effectiveness, along with the availability of suitably qualified/regulated practitioners are all taken into account when decisions are being made on the provision of a treatment.

Influenza Vaccine

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people died in each trust as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people were admitted to hospital in each trust as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating and monitoring the safety of medicines and vaccines.
	An important source of information that the MHRA uses to monitor the safety of medicines and vaccines is through the receipt of spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme (YCS), by health care professionals and patients. This enables new or changing safety issues to be promptly detected.
	The number of people in the United Kingdom whose death or hospitalisation was suspected to be associated with influenza vaccination and reported to the MHRA via the YCS is provided by year since 2003 in the following tables. It is not possible to further break these data down by individual trust.
	
		
			  Number of suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports associated with influenza virus with a fatal outcome, received for the time period 1 January 2003 to 31 May 2008 broken down by year 
			  Year of receipt  Number of reports 
			 2003 2 
			 2004 5 
			 2005 7 
			 2006 3 
			 2007 5 
			 2008(1) 1 
			 Total 23 
			 (1) Data for 2008 include ADR data from 1 January 2008 to 31 May 2008 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of suspected ADR reports associated with influenza virus where the reporter has stated the ADR to be serious for the following reason: Involved or prolonged patient hospitalisation, for the time period 1 January 2003 to 31 May 2008 broken down by year 
			  Year of receipt  Number of reports 
			 2003 19 
			 2004 27 
			 2005 21 
			 2006 29 
			 2007 21 
			 2008(1) 6 
			 Total 123 
			 (1) Data for 2008 include ADR data from 1 January 2008 to 31 May 2008. 
		
	
	It is important to note that the reporting of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that it has been caused by the vaccinebecause the reports are based on suspicions, no causal link may be established. While some reported suspected adverse reactions may represent true reactions to a vaccine, others may represent illnesses unrelated to vaccination that occur naturally in the population of vaccine recipients or concomitant medicines, and their timing in relation to vaccination may be purely coincidental.
	Given that approximately eight million people who are elderly or at high risk of severe cardiac and respiratory illness are likely to be vaccinated with influenza vaccine over the winter season each year, it is inevitable that some patients may die or be hospitalised shortly after vaccination. These events may be reported via the YCS even if the temporal association with vaccination was coincidental.
	The seasonal flu vaccine is safe in the vast majority of those who are vaccinated. The balance of benefits to risks of the influenza vaccines remains overwhelmingly positive.

Influenza Vaccine

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what influenza vaccines his Department has purchased; from which producers they were purchased; what quantities of each have been purchased; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department purchased 25,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine in 2007-08 from Solvay and Wyeth. The quantity of vaccine by supplier is commercially confidential information.
	The vaccine was purchased for use in the Poultry Workers Seasonal Flu Programme. Vaccine for the routine seasonal flu programme offering the vaccine to those aged 65 years and over and those in risk groups is purchased by general practitioners rather than the Department.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what arrangements the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has in place to consider commercial interests when responding to freedom of information requests;
	(2)  what plans executive agencies of his Department have to review regulation of  (a) unlicensed medicines,  (b) off-label medicines and  (c) medicinal products specifically manufactured to meet the special needs of a patient;
	(3)  what regulations are in place to prevent the promotion of unlicensed medicines.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), in conjunction with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and representative trade associations, has developed guidance on the disclosure of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. When considering the release of information which would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests, the MHRA will obtain the views of the person or company concerned before making a final decision to disclose or withhold the requested information.
	The MHRA is leading a review of the regulatory arrangements in the United Kingdom which allow an authorised health care professional to commission an unlicensed medicinal product to meet the special needs of an individual patient. The MHRA issued a discussion document in February 2008 and interested parties have been invited to submit views by 30 June. There are no plans to review off-label use of medicines.
	The Medicines (Advertising) Regulations 1994, as amended, prohibit the advertising of medicines which do not have a marketing authorisation, traditional herbal registration or homoeopathic registration in force. Additionally, the advertising of an unlicensed medicine for human use is prohibited under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisation Etc) Regulations 1994 as amended and Schedules 2 and 4 of The Medicines for Human Use (Manufacturing, Wholesale Dealing and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005.

NHS: Vaccination

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 451W, on the NHS: vaccination, if he will increase uptake data collection for all treatments recommended for use in the NHS by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no plans currently to extend uptake data collection for immunisations outside the national routine immunisation programme. Data for other treatments are not collected in the format requested. Information on prescriptions dispensed in the community in England has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/PCA%20publication/PCA%202007%20complete.pdf

Care and Support Services

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated to inform its consultation on the future of care and support services.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has not commissioned any research specifically to inform the public engagement process on the future of care and support services, other than research with the public to determine appropriate naming and branding of all materials for use during the engagement process. The Department has commissioned some modelling work from the personal social services research unit which was used to identify the size of the funding gap as laid out in the launch document for the public engagement, and will inform the Green Paper more widely.
	The Department has evaluated a variety of research. In November 2006, HM Treasury announced that they would undertake an internal review of the funding of services for the over-85s, including the King's Fund report Securing Good Care for Older People, and research carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation into the funding of social care. The results of this review have fed into the engagement process on the future of care and support services, as have publications by other major stakeholder organisations on this subject.

Care and Support Services

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to develop care and support services pending the outcome of its consultation on the future of such services.

Ivan Lewis: The cross-sector concordat Putting People First published in December 2007 establishes the collaboration between central and local government, the sector's professional leadership, providers and the regulator. It sets out the shared aims and values which will guide the transformation of adult social care, and recognises that the sector will work across agendas with users and carers to transform people's experience of local support and services. Copies of the concordat are available in the Library and are also available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_081118
	The transformation of adult social care is supported by the social care reform grant, a new, ring-fenced grant of 520 million over three years to support councils to redesign and reshape their adult social care services, with the majority having most of the core components of a personalised system in place. The expectation is that by 2010-11, councils will have made significant steps towards greater personalisation.
	Further information, conditions and advice on the social care reform grant are available in Local Authority Circular (DH) (2008)1: Transforming Social Care which is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/LocalAuthorityCirculars/DH_081934

Care and Support Services

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with  (a) care providers in the (i) private, (ii) voluntary and (iii) independent healthcare sectors and  (b) representatives of (A) insurers and (B) the Association of British Insurers as part of his Department's consultation on the future of care and support services.

Ivan Lewis: Ministers and officials within the Department have formal and informal meetings with stakeholders on a regular basis. In addition, care providers from different sectors are represented on the Department's national stakeholder forum.
	In specific relation to the care, support, independence project, we have set up a stakeholder panel with membership from care providers and insurers, including the Association of British Insurers. This Panel met on 6 April 2008 and further meetings are planned. In addition, representatives from these provider and insurance sectors are being asked to attend regional stakeholder events, scheduled between June and November this year, to discuss the key issues.

Care and Support Services

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to involve  (a) patients with longer-term conditions and  (b) (i) adult and (ii) young carers in his Department's consultation on the future of care and support services;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to achieve a broad range of responses to his Department's consultation on the future of care and support services.

Ivan Lewis: A new care and support system will affect every adult in the country. The purpose of the debate launched by my right. hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12 May 2008 is to ensure everyone can have their say via the following methods:
	at our website www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk;
	emailing careandsupport@dh.gsi.gov.uk;
	writing to the Care and Support Team, Room 543, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS;
	the document The case for changeWhy England needs a new care and support system is also available in an easy read format for people with learning disabilities and in an easy access format for people who have had a stroke. Copies of the document are available in the Library;
	a series of public events where the key issues will be discussed in detail. These include a stakeholder event in every Government region and a number of citizen events. The stakeholder events will include user and patient groups that represent patients with long-term conditions including both adults and young carers;
	at the end of the six month engagement period there will be a final event bringing stakeholders and citizens together to provide a further opportunity for discussion; and additional research will also be undertaken to ensure groups of people whose views may not be readily heard via the routes outlined above, have the opportunity to give their views.

Care and Support Services

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to involve hon. Members in its consultation on the future of care and support services.

Ivan Lewis: Hon. Members were alerted to the launch of the public engagement on the reform of the care and support system via a written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 12 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 48-50WS. A copy of the document, 'The Case for ChangeWhy England Needs a New Care and Support System', which was published on 12 May 2008 to mark the beginning of this engagement process, is available in the Library.

Care and Support Services

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will treat Derek Wanless's reports on care and support services commissioned by the King's Fund as submissions to his Department's consultation on the future of such services.

Ivan Lewis: In the pre-Budget report 2006, HM Treasury announced that the Government would be undertaking an internal review of care for the over-85s, looking in particular at Derek Wanless's report for the King's Fund, Securing Good Care for Older People. The outcome of that review, which was extended to cover the over-65s, is feeding into the development of the Green Paper on reform of the care and support system.

Pregnancy: Dietary Supplements

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on whether pregnant women who take Vitamin A reduce the risk of having a baby with a cleft lip or palate; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Neither the Department nor the Medical Research Council (MRC) is presently supporting research specifically concerned with vitamin A supplements and the risk of cleft lip or palate.
	The Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London Biomedical Research Centre formed as part of the implementation of the Government's research strategy Best Research for Best Health will however undertake research on the factors that are important in normal and abnormal palate development. Copies of the strategy are available in the Library.
	The MRC is additionally supporting a basic research study in animals focused on neural patterning that aims to investigate how excess or insufficient amounts of vitamin A during pregnancy can affect craniofacial development. The MRC has also supported a number of studies exploring genetic factors relating to the development of cleft lip and palate.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on prescription charges.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department receives representations regularly on all aspects of the charging arrangements from a range of interested parties, hon. Members, noble Lords and the public.